Lipase Supplementation before a High-Fat Meal Reduces Perceptions of Fullness in Healthy Subjects

Abstract

Background/AimsPostprandial symptoms of fullness and abdominal discomfort are common after fatty meals. Gastric lipases hydrolyze 10% to 20% of dietary triglycerides during the stomach trituration period of digestion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of acid-resistant lipase on upper gastrointestinal symptoms, including fullness and bloating, as well as on gastric myoelectrical activity after healthy subjects ingested a high-fat, liquid meal.MethodsThis study utilized a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design with 16 healthy volunteers who ingested either a capsule containing 280 mg of acid-resistant lipase or a placebo immediately before a fatty meal (355 calories, 55% fat). Participants rated their stomach fullness, bloating, and nausea before and at timed intervals for 60 minutes after the meal. Electrogastrograms were obtained to assess the gastric myoelectrical activity.ResultsStomach fullness, bloating, and nausea increased significantly 10 minutes after ingestion of the fatty meal (p<0.01), whereas normal gastric myoelectrical activity decreased and tachygastria increased (p<0.05). With lipase, reports of stomach fullness were significantly lower compared with placebo (p<0.05), but no effect on gastric myoelectrical activity or other upper gastrointestinal symptoms was observed.ConclusionsThe high-fat meal induced transient fullness, bloating, nausea, and tachygastria in healthy individuals, consistent with post-prandial distress syndrome. Acid-resistant lipase supplementation significantly decreased stomach fullness.

Is Lipase Supplementation before a High Fat Meal Helpful to Patients with Functional Dyspepsia?

“…After ingestion of fatty meal, normal gastric myoelectrical activity decreased and tachygastria increased in healthy volunteers. 4 Previous study showed similar findings in patients with functional dyspepsia. 5 Patients with FD revealed a preprandial increase in tachygastria compared to controls.…”

“…Levine et al . 4 showed that high fat meal induced the similar symptoms in FD patients. Therefore, they speculated that lipase supplementation with meals might provide relief of symptoms.…”

“…And, they showed that significant correlations between the scores for nausea and pain and plasma CCK concentrations. 3 In Levine’s study, 4 stomach fullness, bloating, and nausea increased significantly 10 minutes after ingestion of fatty meal in 16 healthy volunteers. Levine et al .…”

“…Levine et al . 4 also analyzed the effect of fatty meal on gastric myoelectrical activity. After ingestion of fatty meal, normal gastric myoelectrical activity decreased and tachygastria increased in healthy volunteers.…”

Functional dyspepsia and the role of digestive enzymes supplement in its therapy

“…27 A study on 16 healthy volunteers reported improvement of post-prandial fullness after ingestion of a fatty meal. 28 Other digestive enzymes which aid in digestion of macromolecules are lactase, alpha galactosidase, cellulase, beta glucanase, invertase and peptidase.…”