Effects of gender, age, and body mass index on gastrointestinal transit times

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Abstract
This study aimed to assess separately the effects of gender, age, and body mass index on gastric emptying, small intestinal transit, and colonic transit times of a meal containing99mTc-labeled cellulose fiber and 2- to 3-mm111In-labeled plastic particles. Seventeen healthy young subjects (nine men; eight women; age 21–27 years; body mass index 18.4–25.1 kg/m2) and 16 healthy older subjects (eight men; eight women; age 55–74 years; body mass index 19.8–36.0 kg/m2) were studied. All transit variables were unaffected by gender. The older subjects had a slower mean colonic transit time of radiolabeled plastic particles than the young subjects (PP<0.02). Body mass index had no influence on other transit variables. The study revealed a considerable intersubject and a somewhat smaller intrasubject variability in mean gastric emptying, mean small intestinal, and mean colonic transit times.