Role of Free Fatty Acids in Regulating Gastric Emptying and Gallbladder Contraction

Vol. 74, No. 3-4, 2006

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Original Paper

Role of Free Fatty Acids in Regulating Gastric Emptying and Gallbladder Contraction
Lukas Degen^{a, b}, Daniel Matzinger^{a, b}, Juergen Drewe^{a, c}, Sonja Nisslé^a, Helmut Maecke^d, Hans Lengsfeld^e, Paul Hadvary^e, Christoph Beglinger^{a, b}

^aDepartment of Research and Clinical Research Centre,
^bDivision of Gastroenterology,
^cDepartment of Clinical Pharmacology, and
^dDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, Basel, and
^eHoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland

Address of Corresponding Author

Digestion 2006;74:131-139 (DOI: 10.1159/000098560)

Key Words

Cholecystokinin
Orlistat
Tetrahydrolipstatin
Free fatty acids
Gastric emptying
Gallbladder contraction

Abstract

The limited effectiveness of orlistat, an inhibitor of gastrointestinal lipases, in inhibiting fat digestion is not completely understood. Therefore we studied the effect of orally and duodenally administered orlistat on gastric emptying, cholecystokinin (CCK) secretion, and gallbladder contraction. In healthy males, gastric emptying of solids and fat were quantified scintigraphically, gallbladder contraction by ultrasound and CCK release by radioimmunoassay. Three studies were performed: (1) oral and (2) duodenal orlistat with a fat-containing meal, and (3) duodenal orlistat with a fat-free meal. Gastric emptying rates of solids and fat (T_50% accelerated by 16 and by 22%, p< 0.05, respectively) were significantly faster after duodenal perfusion of orlistat; gallbladder contraction and CCK release were reduced under these conditions (p < 0.005, respectively). With oral orlistat no significant effect was documented on these parameters. We conclude that fat hydrolysis is essential in the regulation of fat-induced gastric emptying and gallbladder contraction.

Author Contacts

Christoph Beglinger, MD
University Hospital
CH-4031 Basel (Switzerland)
Tel. +41 61 265 51 75, Fax +41 61 265 38 47, E-Mail beglinger@tmr.ch

Article Information

Received: February 9, 2006
Accepted: April 11, 2006
Published online: January 12, 2007
Number of Print Pages : 9
Number of Figures : 6, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 35

Medline Abstract (ID 17220631)

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