Korean J Gastroenterol.  2018 Jun;71(6):324-331. 10.4166/kjg.2018.71.6.324.

Gastrointestinal Gas and Abdominal Fat Quantity Measured by Three-Dimensional Abdominal Computed Tomography in Patients with Functional Bloating

• Lee HS
• Kim JK
• Sun JS
• Lee KJ

• KMID: 2414458
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2018.71.6.324

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
The aim of this study was to assess whether increased intestinal gas or fat content in the abdominal cavity is related to abdominal bloating, using three-dimensional abdominal computed tomography scan.
METHODS
Twenty-nine healthy individuals without abdominal bloating and organic disease (15 women; mean age, 49 years; range of age, 23-73 years) and 30 patients with chronic recurrent abdominal bloating-diagnosed with functional bloating (10 women; mean age, 53 years; range of age, 35-75 years) - participated in this study. The mean values of measured parameters were compared using independent sample t-test.
RESULTS
The mean volume of total colon gas in bloated patients was similar to that in control subjects. The distribution of intra-abdominal gas was also similar between the two groups. However, the amount of gas in the transverse colon tended to be significantly higher in patients with bloating than in controls (p=0.06). Body mass index was similar between the two groups (23.4±3.2 kg/m2 and 22.3±3.1 kg/m2, respectively). Moreover, no significant differences with respect to circumferential area, subcutaneous fat, visceral fat area, and total fat area were found between the two groups.
CONCLUSIONS
Bloating might not just be the result of gastrointestinal gas or intra-abdominal fat. Other contributing factors, such as localized abnormality in gas distribution and visceral hypersensitivity, may be involved.

Keyword

Abdominal fat; Gastrointestinal contents; Gas bloat syndrome; Multidetector computed tomography; Irritable bowel syndrome

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Cavity
Abdominal Fat*
Body Mass Index
Colon
Colon, Transverse
Female
Gastrointestinal Contents
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Intra-Abdominal Fat
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Multidetector Computed Tomography
Subcutaneous Fat

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Subcutaneous fat and visceral fat amount measurement by image processing workstation software.

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  Fig. 2. Intra-abdominal gas measurements by image processing workstation software.

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  Fig. 3. Abdominal gas distribution. (A) The amount of gas in the transverse colon tended to be significantly higher in patients with bloating than in controls (p=0.051). (B) The tendency to have increased amount of gas in the transverse colon was noted in male (p=0.058). (C) Total amount of stomach and colon gas was similar with control in female. A-colon, ascending clolon; T-colon, transverse colon; D-colon, descending colon; RS-colon, rectosigmoid colon.

• 

  Fig. 4. Maximal diameter of intestinal segment. (A) The mean maximal diameter of A colon, T colon, D colon and RS colon in the patients with bloating was similar as in control subjects. (B) There is no significant mean diameter difference between patients and control in female. (C) In male, mean diameter of intestine was higher in patients, significantly in the jejunum (2.1±0.6 vs. 1.7±0.6 mm3; p=0.001) and ileum (2.0±1.2 vs. 1.6±0.7 mm3; p=0.020). A-colon, ascending clolon; T-colon, transverse colon; D-colon, descending colon; RS-colon, rectosigmoid colon.

Reference

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