Is there an association between GNbeta3-C825T genotype and lower functional gastrointestinal disorders?

BACKGROUND & AIMS: GNbeta3 influences G-protein translation of a majority of ligand-receptor activations. It has been reported that functional dyspepsia (FD) is associated with homozygous genotypes of the C825T polymorphism in the GNbeta3 gene. It is unknown whether the GNbeta3 genotype is associated with lower functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID). We aimed to compare the prevalence of the different GNbeta3-C825T genotypes in patients with lower FGID and healthy controls and to test the associations of these genetic variations with subgroups of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional abdominal pain (FAP), lower FGID-FD overlap, and high somatic symptom scores. METHODS: GNbeta3-C825T polymorphism was analyzed in DNA from blood samples of 233 patients with lower FGID and 152 healthy controls. A validated bowel questionnaire characterized the FGID phenotype: 82 with IBS constipation, 94 with IBS diarrhea, 38 with IBS alternating bowel function, and 19 with FAP. There were 159 patients with lower FGID and overlap FD using Rome II criteria. Regression analyses assessed associations of the GNbeta3 genotypes with lower FGID as a group, and subgroups of FGID and somatic symptom scores. RESULTS: GNbeta3-C825T genotype distributions were similar between healthy controls (50.7% CC, 40.8% TC) and patients with lower FGID (8.6% TT, 51.5% CC, 40.8% TC, and 7.7% TT). There were no significant associations of GNbeta3-C825T polymorphism with lower FGID overall or with the separate symptom subgroups including IBS, FAP, lower FGID-FD overlap, or high somatic symptom scores. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to the reported association with FD, GNbeta3-C825T polymorphism is not associated significantly with lower FGID, with different IBS or FAP phenotypes, or lower FGID-FD overlap.

Gastric sensorimotor functions and hormone profile in normal weight, overweight, and obese people.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Peptide YY (PYY) levels are reported to be decreased in obesity. The relation between gastric functions, satiation, and gut hormones in obesity is incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to compare gastric volumes, emptying, maximum tolerated volumes, postchallenge symptoms, and selected gut hormones in normal, overweight, or obese healthy volunteers. METHODS: In 73 nonbulimic normal, overweight, or obese participants weighing less than 137 kg, we measured gastric emptying of solids and liquids by scintigraphy (gastric emptying half-time [GE t(1/2)]); gastric volumes by single-photon emission computed tomography; maximum tolerated volumes and symptoms by satiation test; and plasma leptin, ghrelin, insulin, glucagon-like peptide 1, and PYY levels. Groups were compared using 1-way analysis of covariance adjusted for sex. Univariate associations among measured responses were assessed using Spearman correlations. Multiple linear regression models, adjusting for weight and sex, assessed the independent ability of gastric functions and hormones to predict satiation volume. RESULTS: Obese and overweight subjects had significantly lower postprandial gastric volumes, higher fasting and postprandial insulin and leptin levels, and lower fasting ghrelin and lower postprandial reduction in ghrelin levels. PYY levels were not different in obese or overweight subjects compared with controls. The GE t(1/2) was correlated inversely with postprandial PYY; increased body weight was associated with faster GE t(1/2) of solids (r(s) = 0.33, P = .005) and liquids (r(s) = 0.24, P = .04). Postprandial changes in gastric volume and PYY were independent predictors of satiation (both P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Overweight or obesity are associated with lower postprandial gastric volumes and normal PYY levels. Gastric emptying influences postprandial PYY levels. Postprandial PYY and gastric volume independently predict satiation volume in nonbulimic people across a wide body mass index range.

A study of candidate genotypes associated with dyspepsia in a U.S. community.

BACKGROUND: The role of genetic predisposition to the development of dyspepsia is unclear. Recently, a significant association was reported with CC genotype of GNbeta3. AIM: To explore the association of candidate genotypes altering adrenergic, serotonergic, CCKergic, and G protein functions, and dyspepsia in a sample from a U.S. community. METHODS: Dyspeptics and healthy controls were identified among community respondents who had been randomly selected to complete validated questionnaires. Other diseases were excluded by face-to-face history and physical examination. Polymorphisms of candidate genes for alpha(2A), alpha(2C), 5-HT(1A), 5-HT(2A), 5-HT(2C), CCK-1 receptors and CCK promoter, GNbeta3 protein, and SERT-promoter (SERT-P) were studied. The association between polymorphisms and meal-related or meal-unrelated dyspepsia, high somatic symptom scores, and somatization were evaluated using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: DNA was available from 41 dyspeptics and 47 healthy controls from Olmsted County. Community dyspepsia unrelated to meals was associated with both homozygous GNbeta3 protein 825T and C alleles. There were no significant associations with meal-related dyspepsia. Using Rome II subgroups, the same genotype was associated with dysmotility-like and other dyspepsia. Higher somatization scores were not significantly associated with any of the candidate genes when considered as single factors. CONCLUSION: Meal-unrelated dyspepsia in a U.S. community study is associated with the homozygous 825T or C alleles of GNbeta3 protein. Candidate genes controlling adrenergic, serotonergic, and CCKergic functions do not appear to be associated with dyspepsia.

Relationship of gastric emptying and volume changes after a solid meal in humans.

Noninvasive imaging has been developed to measure gastric volumes. The relationship between gastric emptying and volume postprandially is unclear. The aims were to 1) develop a 3-dimensional (3D) single photon emission-computed tomography (SPECT) method to simultaneously measure gastric volume and emptying postprandially, 2) describe the course of gastric volume change during emptying of the meal, and 3) assess a 3D method measuring gastric emptying. In 30 healthy volunteers, we used (111)In-planar and (99m)Tc-SPECT imaging to estimate gastric emptying and volume after a radiolabeled meal. A customized analysis program of SPECT imaging assessed gastric emptying. A Bland-Altman plot assessed the performance of the new SPECT analysis compared with planar analysis. Gastric volume postprandially exceeds the fasting volume plus meal volume. The course of volume change and gastric emptying differ over time. Higher differences in volumes exist relative to fasting plus residual meal volumes at 15 min (median 763 vs. 568 ml, respectively, P < 0.001), 1 h (median 632 vs. 524 ml, P < 0.001), and 2 h (median 518 vs. 428 ml, P < 0.02), in contrast to similar volumes at 3 h (median 320 vs. 314 ml, P = 0.85). Analysis of SPECT imaging accurately measures gastric emptying compared with planar imaging with median differences of 1% (IQR -2.25 to 2.0) at 1 h, 1% (-3.25 to 2.25) at 2 h, and -2.5% (-4 to 0) at 3 h. Gastric volume exceeds meal volume during the first 2 postprandial hours, and simultaneous measurements of gastric volume and emptying can be achieved with a novel 3D SPECT method.

A community-based, controlled study of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of dyspepsia.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Dyspepsia is common in clinical practice and in the community. The relationship of the symptoms to meals and the pathophysiology in community dyspeptic patients is unclear. The purpose of this study was to measure symptoms, demographic features, and gastric motor and sensory functions associated with dyspepsia in the community. METHODS: A Modified Bowel Disease Questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of Olmsted County, MN, residents. Dyspeptic patients and healthy controls identified among community respondents completed further questionnaires, Helicobacter pylori serology, gastric emptying by scintigraphy, gastric accommodation by 99mTc-single-photon emission computed tomography imaging, and postprandial symptoms and satiation by a nutrient drink test. RESULTS: A total of 34.1% of community respondents reported dyspepsia within the past year, frequent (at least 25% of the time in the past year) in 17.5%, and 18.4% reported meal-related dyspepsia. Dyspepsia was frequent and related to meals in 10.8% of respondents. Compared with nondyspeptic controls, community dyspepsia was associated with higher aggregate symptom scores and bloating after a fully satiating meal. Community dyspepsia also was associated with higher somatization scores (P = .001), reporting of other somatic symptoms (P = .07), and general severity score on the symptom checklist 90 (P = .01), but not with disordered motor or sensory function. Gastric volumes, gastric emptying, and maximum tolerated volumes were not significantly different between community controls and dyspeptic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Meal-related dyspepsia is an important component of dyspepsia in the community. Community dyspeptic patients have higher symptom scores after a fully satiating meal, consistent with gastric hypersensitivity. This is associated with higher somatization scores rather than disorders of gastric emptying or volumes.