RADIOGRAPHIC DETERMINATION OF GASTRIC EMPTYING AND GASTROINTESTINAL TRANSIT TIME IN COWNOSE RAYS (RHINOPTERA BONASUS) AND WHITESPOTTED BAMBOO SHARKS (CHILOSCYLLIUM PLAGIOSUM) AND THE EFFECT OF METOCLOPRAMIDE ON GASTROINTESTINAL MOTILITY

This article is a review of the effects that ingested dietary fiber has on gastrointestinal transit time. The various phases of gastrointestinal motility are considered, and the effect of fiber on these various components is explored. Fiber affects each phase of gastrointestinal motility differently; however, the most dramatic effect on decreased transit time and frequency of bowel movements results from the variations it causes in colonic transit time. The mechanisms of defecation in children and the ways in which fiber affects the frequency of bowel movements are emphasized. All types of fiber do not affect gastrointestinal transit in a similar manner, and different preparations of the same fiber either may delay or may increase the time of intestinal transit. In general, fiber is found to increase the frequency of bowel movements and may prove to be of considerable benefit in treating constipation, a common childhood disorder.

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The use of a wireless motility device (SmartPill®) for the measurement of gastrointestinal transit time after a dietary fibre intervention

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s0007114510004988 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 105 (9) ◽

pp. 1337-1342 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Derek Timm ◽

Holly Willis ◽

William Thomas ◽

Lisa Sanders ◽

Thomas Boileau ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gastric Emptying ◽

Transit Time ◽

Dietary Intervention ◽

Gastrointestinal Transit ◽

Colonic Transit ◽

Gut Health ◽

Dietary Interventions ◽

Gastrointestinal Transit Time ◽

Significant Difference ◽

In Transit

Historically, measurement of gastrointestinal transit time has required collection and X-raying of faecal samples for up to 7 d after swallowing radio-opaque markers; a tedious, labour-intensive technique for both subjects and investigators. Recently, a wireless motility capsule (SmartPill®), which uses gut pH, pressure and temperature to measure transit time, has been developed. This device, however, has not been validated with dietary interventions. Therefore, we conducted a controlled cross-over trial to determine whether the device could detect a significant difference in transit time after ten healthy subjects (five men and five women) consumed 9 g of wheat bran (WB) or an equal volume, low-fibre control for 3 d. A paired t test was used to determine differences in transit times. Colonic transit time decreased by 10·8 (sd 6·6) h (P = 0·006) on the WB treatment. Whole-gut transit time also decreased by 8·9 (sd 5·4) h (P = 0·02) after the consumption of WB. Gastric emptying time and small-bowel transit time did not differ between treatments. Despite encouraging results, the present study had several limitations including short duration, lack of randomisation and unusable data due to delayed gastric emptying of the capsule. With minimal participant burden, the SmartPill technology appears to be a potentially useful tool for assessing transit time after a dietary intervention. This technology could be considered for digestive studies with novel fibres and other ingredients that are promoted for gut health.

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