Effect of different types of foods on gastric myoelectrical activity during simulated microgravity

Abstract

Background and Aim: Gastric functions are altered in microgravity condition. Studies are rare on how does microgravity, or low gravity condition impairs gastric function on the intake of different types of food. Therefore, this study was taken up to investigate the effect of dry supine immersion (DSI), a well-known technique to simulate physiological effect of microgravity on the earth on gastric functions after intake of four different types of food. Methods: Gastric electrical response of the stomach was recorded by electrogastrography (EGG) in 20 healthy males after intake of carbohydrate rich food (CHO), protein rich food (PR), mixed food (MI), and fat rich food (FR). Mean frequency (MF) of gastric electrical activity (GEA) and percentage of normogastria, bradygastria, tachygastria and arrhythmia from EGG wave were determined. Results: MF of GEA reduced significantly from baseline supine to DSI after intake of CHO (3.55 vs. 3.19 cpm), PR (3.38 vs. 3.16 cpm), MI (3.53 vs. 3.09 cpm) and FR (3.01 vs. 2.57 cpm) foods. Normogastric wave pattern was reduced significantly during DSI from baseline supine after intake of CHO (81% vs. 72%), PR (80% vs. 73%), mixed (78.8% vs. 69.5%), and FR (70% vs. 61.5%) foods. Bradygastric and arrhythmic wave appeared during DSI. Conclusion: This study showed that during DSI, MF of GEA, a surrogate measure of gastric motility, reduced significantly after intake of any type of food. Highest gastric slowdown being observed after consumption of FR food.