THERAPEUTICAL NOTES   

Minerva Medica 1999 May-June;90(5-6):187-202

Copyright © 1999 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Modifications induced by a mineral water on gastrointestinal motility of patients with chronic idiopathic dyspepsia

Bortolotti M., Turba E., Mari C., Lopilato C., Porrazzo G., Scalabrino A., Miglioli M.

Background. The antidyspeptic property of mineral waters has been based for ages on empirical data. In the present paper the effects of one of them (Tettuccio, Montecatini) on gastrointestinal motility of patients with dyspepsia has been evaluated. Methods. The study was carried out on 24 patients with idiopathic dyspepsia and delayed gastric emptying at scintigraphy and 18 healthy subjects with normal gastric emptying. The gastric emptying of this mineral water was studied with a scintigraphic method in comparison with tap water, while its effects on gastroduodenal contractions were evaluated by of manometry. Results. The gastric emptying of this mineral water was significantly faster than that of tap water, both in dyspeptic patients and in normals. Manometric examination showed that the administration of mineral water induced a brief decrease of phasic motor activity, followed by a progressive increase, which in some cases ended in an activity front of the Migrating Motor Complex. Conclusions. This mineral water has a stimulating effect on both gastric emptying and interdigestive cyclic motor activity of the gastroduodenal tract. Both these effects could be useful in the treatment of chronic idiopathic dyspepsia and impaired gut clearing.