The effect of cholecystokinin antagonism on postprandial lower oesophageal sphincter function in asymptomatic volunteers and patients with reflux disease

What Was Tested

The paper reports a study of Cholecystokinin (CCK), published as a randomized controlled trial.

To study the role of CCK in postprandial LOS function using the CCK antagonist loxiglumide.

Who Took Part

According to the abstract, 10 volunteers were involved.

The age groups tagged for this paper are adults, middle-aged adults and older adults, both men and women.

10 asymptomatic volunteers (7 male, 20-29 years) and 9 patients with symptomatic gastro-oesophageal reflux (4 male, 33-66 years).

Each subject underwent two studies and received intravenous loxiglumide or placebo infusion in randomized order.

How the Study Was Run

In design terms this was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and crossover study.

Random assignment meant chance, not the researchers, decided who got Cholecystokinin (CCK) and who got the comparison, which limits bias.

Neither the volunteers nor the staff measuring them knew who was on Cholecystokinin (CCK), so expectations could not easily colour the readings.

Some volunteers received a placebo instead of Cholecystokinin (CCK), giving a reference point.

Each person switched between Cholecystokinin (CCK) and the comparison at some point, usually with a gap in between.

What Was Measured

The subject headings attached to it are Cholecystokinin, Esophagogastric Junction, Gastroesophageal Reflux, Hormone Antagonists, Postprandial Period and Proglumide.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study of Cholecystokinin (CCK) in 10 volunteers.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The abstract goes on to report its results in about 3 sentences; this page does not restate them, so read the paper for the findings and their limits.

The publication is from 2001 (Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics), a journal based in England.

More context: the Cholecystokinin (CCK) compound page, all human trials.