Effect of cigarette smoking on gallbladder emptying and filling in man
Jonderko, K.; Nowak, A.; Kasicka-Jonderko, A.; Błaszczyńska, M.
American Journal of Gastroenterology 89(1): 67-71
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9270 PMID: 8273801 Document Number: 426443
Objective: The effect of cigarette smoking on gallbladder (GB) emptying and refilling after a fatty meal was examined in 10 healthy volunteers (four women and six men, mean age 27.6 yr). Methods: On three different days, the subjects underwent in randomized order: a control test without smoking (C), or they smoked two cigarettes during the early (0-20 min; S-0-20), or late (20-40 min; S-20-40) phase of the meal-induced GB emptying. GB volumes were measured ultrasonographically before the meal and at 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 min postprandially. Two-way ANOVA was applied for statistical assessment of the results. Results: The fasted GB volumes amounted to 15.7 +- 1.8 cm-3 (C), 15.0 +- 1.7 cm-3 (S-0-20), and 18.4 +- 2.3 cm-3 (S-20-40), F-2;18 = 1.524, NS. Maximum GB emptying was observed until 60 min after the meal, with a nadir of the GB volume amounting to 7.3 +- 1.3 cm-3 (C), 6.6 +- 1.2 cm-3 (S-0-20), and 7.1 +- 1.1 cm-3 (S-20-40). No significant difference was found between the stimuli tested when absolute GB volumes were considered: F-2;180 = 2.725, NS. Analysis of the GB emptyingrefilling curves normalized for the fasted GB volume revealed that a significant inhibitory effect was produced by smoking two cigarettes during the late phase of GB emptying on the subsequent GB refilling: F-2;162 = 11.066, p lt 0.001 for the whole curve, and F-2;72 = 7.126, p lt 0.005 for the refilling phase. A significant contrast was found next between S-20-40 and the control day (p lt 0.001 whole curve; p lt 0.005 refilling phase only), as well as between S-20-40 and S-0-20 (p lt 0.001 whole curve; p lt 0.025 refilling phase only). Conclusion: We conclude that smoking two cigarettes does not disturb the fatty meal-induced GB contraction in healthy humans. Subsequent GB refilling is delayed if smoking takes place during the late phase of the postprandial GB contraction.