Dietary Control of Gastroparesis

Dietary Control

Fats in any form cause delay in emptying of the stomach, so foods that are high in fat need to be avoided. High-fibre foods also tend to stay in the stomach, so these foods should be restricted when symptoms are severe. As liquids leave the stomach faster than solid food, foods such as low-fat milk or milkshake should be used. 

Frequent small feedings, 4-6 times a day, are usually more effective than larger meals 2-3 times a day. 

Medication 

Gastroparesis usually is treated with medications that stimulate stomach contractions so that the food is properly broken down in the stomach and emptied into the intestine. The muscular activity of the stomach is not continuous; there are fluctuations in activity throughout the day. Stimulating muscular contractions during and immediately after a meal is important for the treatment of gastroparesis. For this reason, drugs that stimulate contractions are given before meals. It is important to administer the drugs at the right time to be effective. 

Most drugs must be absorbed from the intestine into the blood stream to be active. Pills and capsules behave like solid food and have a tendency to remain in the stomach after they are swallowed. As patients with gastroparesis have better emptying of liquids from the stomach, liquid medications are more effective than pills or capsules because they leave the stomach and reach the intestine more easily and are absorbed from the intestine. Two drugs that are most commonly used to stimulate contractions are metoclopramide and domperidone.

Erythromycin is an antibiotic but it is also used in treatment of gastroparesis. It stimulates short bursts of strong contractions of the stomach muscles that push undigested food into the intestines. Octreotide is a hormone-like drug that again stimulates short bursts of strong contractions. As it has to be administered by injection and is costly, it is only used when other medications fail. 

Surgery is occasionally used to treat gastroparesis. The goal of surgery is to create a larger opening between the stomach and the intestine in order to aid the process of emptying the stomach's contents. Surgery is considered when all other measures have failed. Another treatment is electrical pacing (stimulation) of the stomach.

Gastroparesis
Causes and Symptoms of Gastroparesis
Dietary Control of Gastroparesis