Influence of the menstrual cycle and of menopause on the gastric emptying rate of solids in female volunteers

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of the normal menstrual cycle and of menopause on the gastric emptying rate of solids. Gastric emptying was studied in 15 premenopausal and ten postmenopausal women with an isotopic technique after the ingestion of a radiolabelled test meal. Premenopausal women were studied twice: within 1 week prior to menses and again 1 week after onset of menses. Postmenopausal women were studied only once. The emptying curves of the solid component of the meal fitted a linear model. The half-emptying time was 78 +/- 5 min during the follicular phase, 75 +/- 7 min during the luteal phase and 76 +/- 6 min in postmenopausal women (differences not statistically significant). The mean percentages of the meal retained in the stomach at different time intervals were also similar in the three groups. These results suggest that the menstrual cycle does not influence the gastric emptying rate of solids, which remains unchanged in relation to the follicular phase or after menopause.

Gastric Emptying, CCK Release, and Satiety in Weight-Stable Obese Subjects

“…Others did. (17,19) or did not (20,28) find gastric emptying to be influenced by periods of high estradiol or progesterone levels. We did find a trend of faster liquid and solid emptying in males, thus confirming the results of others who found significantly faster emptying of solids and liquids in obese and nonobese males (17,19,22,23).…”

“…Many factors assumed to influence gastric emptying have been investigated such as age (15)(16)(17), gender (15,(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23), hormonal influences (17,19), circadian rhythm (24), smoking (17,25,26), physical activity (27), and ethnicity (21). Also, gastric emptying has been studied in subjects of different body sizes reflected by differences in height (17,22), body weight (15)(16)(17)(18)(19), body surface area (15,17,18), and BMI (21,22).…”

Long-term effects of lipase inhibition by orlistat on gastric emptying and orocecal transit time of a solid meal

“…Although the phase of the menstrual cycle does not affect gastric emptying, [34][35][36] some published data indicate that orocecal transit time may be prolonged during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, 37 although other reports deny any effect of the menstrual cycle on length of orocecal transit time. 38,39 On the basis of recorded dates of menses and menstrual cycle lengths of the patients studied, we established that 11 of 20 (55%) subjects in the orlistat group, and 8 of 20 (40%) subjects in the placebo group, were examined on both occasions during the same phase of their menstrual cycle.…”

Vomiting and Dysphagia Predict Delayed Gastric Emptying in Diabetic and Nondiabetic Subjects

“…The underlying mechanism for this phenomenon is not fully understood and may be related to estrogen levels. Indeed, during the ovulatory period and pregnancy, peristalsis is decreased and constipation is commonly reported [28]. Parkman, however, described a cohort providing no comparison to other forms of gastroparesis or to subjects undergoing GES without gastroparesis.…”