Small intestinal motility

Purpose of review In the past year, many studies were published in which new and relevant information on small intestinal motility in humans and laboratory animals was obtained. Recent findings Although the reported findings are heterogeneous, some themes appear to be particularly interesting and novel. Among these is the association between disordered small intestinal motility and bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine. Studies in patients with portal hypertension, in patients with chronic renal failure, and in a rat model of experimental acute pancreatitis all point in the same direction. Another topic of particular interest is the relation between duodenal motility and glucose absorption; propagated duodenal pressure wave sequences are positively related to glucose absorption. Finally, many studies addressed the mechanisms involved in the regulation of interdigestive and postprandial small intestinal motility. These confirmed the key role of cholecystokinin and provided new information on the role of orexin A and leptin. Summary The new information on intestinal motility gathered in the past year provides a greater insight in the pathophysiology of a number of diseases and will stimulate further studies in laboratory animals and in human subjects.