Effects of fat and carbohydrate meals on colonic motor response

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Abstract
BACKGROUND Ingestion of a meal stimulates colonic motility. It is unclear whether the nutrient composition of a meal affects colonic motor response. AIMS To investigate and compare the effects of a predominantly fat or carbohydrate meal on colonic motility. METHODS In 18 healthy subjects, ambulatory colonic manometry was performed by placing a six sensor, solid state probe from the mid-transverse colon to the rectum. In a randomised, crossover design, 10 and 27 hours after probe placement, subjects received 4.18 MJ meals containing 60% calories from fat or carbohydrate sources. Preprandial and postprandial pressure activity and motor patterns were evaluated. RESULTS Both meals induced phasic activity with a greater area under the curve (pCONCLUSIONS Carbohydrate meals induce colonic motor response, but the effects are short lived when compared with fat meals. The prolonged, segmental, and retrograde phasic activity induced by the fat meal may delay colon transit. Thus meal composition influences colonic motor response.