Acute Effect of Alcohol on Postprandial Gallbladder Motility: A Placebo-controlled Cross Over Study

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the acute effect of alcohol on postprandial gallbladder motility.
Methods: Fifteen apparently healthy male subjects with body mass index less than 27kg/m2 were studied in a cross over experimental study using ultrasound scan. They first ingested 325ml of clean water and 330ml of cream milk containing 28g of milk fat after an overnight fast. Gallbladder volume decrement at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 minutes postprandial were recorded through an ultrasound scan. On the second day of the study, the same subjects ingested 325ml of alcoholic beverage containing 7.5% volume alcohol and 330ml of cream milk containing 28g of milk fat after an overnight fast. Gallbladder volume decrement at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 minutes postprandial were recorded through an ultrasound scan.
Results: The mean gallbladder volumes on both days of the experiment were; day 1, 24.40+5.96cm3 and day 2, 25.33+5.93cm3. The mean 30th minute gallbladder contraction index (GBCI) on both days of the experiment were day 1, 69.68+9.49% and day 2, 72.40+9.78%. There was no difference in the GBCI when alcohol was ingested and when it was not (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Though alcohol stimulates rapid postprandial gallbladder emptying, the effect was not significant and reduces rapidly with time. Alcohol ingestion has no acute effect on postprandial gallbladder motility in the first 30 minutes postprandial (P>0.05).


Keywords: Gallbladder, Gallbladder motility, Gallbladder contraction index, Alcohol, Ultrasound.

Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol. 7 (2) 2008: pp. 56-60