Aim: Retrospectively, to investigate the relationship between body mass
index (BMI) and basal electrogenic transport as measured by short-circuit
current (SCC) in human duodenal and colonic mucosal biopsies.
Methods: The study included biopsies from mucosa of normal appearance in
the sigmoid colon and/or distal duodenum. Patients were referred for routine
endoscopy (predominantly for monosymptomatic abdominal pain) and had
normal endoscopic findings. Biopsies were mounted in miniaturized Ussing
chambers and basal SCC was recorded. Patients were divided into two
groups on the basis of BMI (£25 and >25 kg m)2). Statistical significance
was assessed by the unpaired t-test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Correlation
coefficients were calculated by Pearson product moment correlation.
Results: In colonic biopsies, basal SCC (mean standard deviation) was
significantly higher in 59 biopsies from 30 patients with low BMI than in 32
biopsies from 23 patients with high BMI (45 29 lA cm)2 vs. 27
21 lA cm)2, P = 0.016). In duodenal biopsies, mean basal SCC was
numerically lower in 38 biopsies from 15 patients with low BMI than in 46
biopsies from 19 patients with high BMI (54 26 lA cm)2 vs. 74
39 lA cm)2, P = 0.069). The correlation coefficient between BMI and SCC
was )0.26 (P = 0.06) in colonic biopsies and +0.44 (P = 0.001) in duodenal
biopsies.
Conclusion: Basal intestinal active electrogenic transport is related to BMI
and this relationship may differ in different segments of the intestinal tract.