The(13)C-octanoic acid breath test for detection of effects of meal composition on the rate of solid-phase gastric emptying in ponies.

The research aimed to use the 13C-octanoic acid breath test as a tool for detecting the effects of meal composition changes on the rate of solid-phase gastric emptying in ponies, showing that soya oil slowed down gastric emptying.

Study Design and Methodology

• The study involved a total of four ponies. The experiment required each pony to fast for 14 hours before they were provided with a test meal. Three types of test meals were tested – those with no soya oil, with 35 ml of soya oil, and with 70 ml of soya oil.
• All the test meals contained 250 mg of 13C-octanoic acid. Each pony was given each of the three meals at different times in a random order.
• This was followed by the collection of exhaled breath samples for a period of 12 hours after the ingestion of the test meal.
• The samples collected were then analyzed using the continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry method.

Data Analysis and Findings

• The model checked for three indices of the 13C component in breath: half-dose recovery time (t 1/2), gastric emptying coefficient (GEC) and time to peak breath 13C-excretion (tmax).
• Upon analysis, the researchers were able to establish a relationship between the addition of soya oil to meals and the rate of gastric emptying. Specifically, they found that the addition of soya oil in the meal led to a decrease in the rate of gastric emptying in ponies.

Conclusion and Implications

• The results of the study demonstrated that the 13C-octanoic acid breath test is indeed efficient and reliable in detecting alterations in the rate of gastric emptying in ponies due to changes in their meal compositions.
• This finding, therefore, establishes a direct link between the amount of oil in a meal and the rate at which the meal is processed in the digestive system.