Delayed gastric emptying as a factor in delayed postprandial glycaemic response in pregnancy

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Objective To determine whether an alteration in gastric emptying contributes to an altered postprandial glycaemic response in normal pregnancy. Design A longitudinal study in normal pregnancy and postpartum. Setting Teaching hospital in Sheffield. Subjects Primigravid women with uncomplicated pregnancies. Interventions Simultaneous meal tolerance and paracetamol absorption tests. Main outcome measures 1. Gastric emptying: maximum concentration (Cmax) and time to maximum concentration (Tmax) of paracetamol; 2. glycaemic response: Cmax, Tmax, and area under the curve of plasma glucose; 3. insulinaemic response: Cmax, Tmax, area under the curve of plasma insulin. Results An increased, but not delayed, insulin response, and an increased initial glucose response to a test meal in the third trimester were not accompanied by any simultaneous delay in gastric emptying. Conclusion Gastric emptying does not seem to be a factor in the glycaemic response of pregnancy.