Efficacy of mosapride citrate in proximal gastric accommodation and gastrointestinal motility in healthy volunteers: a double-blind placebo-controlled ultrasonographic study.

BACKGROUND

Mosapride citrate, a 5-hydroxytryptamine-4 receptor agonist, enhances antral contractions and gastric emptying, but its effects on proximal gastric accommodation and gastroduodenal motility have not been fully studied. The aim of the present study was to clarify the effects of mosapride citrate on proximal gastric accommodation and gastroduodenal motility in healthy volunteers, using ultrasonography.

METHODS

Fourteen healthy volunteers (mean age 25.3 years) were treated for 14 days with mosapride citrate (15 mg b.d.) or a placebo in a double-blind randomized fashion. Before and after drug treatment, ultrasonographic assessment of gastroduodenal motility was performed. For assessment of the gastric accommodation reflex, the cross-sectional area of the proximal stomach was measured after the incremental ingestion, with a straw, of up to 400 ml of a liquid meal (consommé soup: 13.1 kcal, 400 ml); this was done with the subject in a supine position. Gastric emptying, antral contractions, and the duodenogastric reflux were observed as described previously.

RESULTS

In the subjects treated with mosapride citrate, the expansion rate of the cross-sectional area of the proximal stomach was significantly greater after the ingestion of 400 ml as compared to that of the subjects treated with the placebo. Similarly, gastric emptying and antral contractions increased significantly in the mosapride citrate group as compared to the placebo group. Although the duodenogastric reflux tended to decrease in the mosapride citrate group, it showed no significant difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that mosapride citrate enhances the meal-induced gastric accommodation reflex and promotes adequate gastroduodenal coordination and motility in healthy volunteers.