GASTROPARESIS AND LACTOBACILLUS PROBIOTIC

Hi @denisef -
I have wondered the same thing. BTW I think you mean decreasing (not increasing) the gastric emptying time. I am hoping that someone responds who can share their experience with probiotics.
In the meantime, here is one study with some strange results for age brackets versus BMI brackets. Not sure about the publication quality.
Evaluation of multi-strain Lactobacillus capsule on gastric emptying function b emptying function by Tc-99m scintigraphy in a crossover placebo-controlled clinical trial (Journal of Food and Drug Analysis, 2012):
"In the 20-40 age group, the half times of gastric emptying (GEt1/2) for baseline, placebo, and Lactobacillus regimen periods were 73.0 ± 16.0, 85.7 ± 10.5 and 87.8 ± 10.0 min, respectively, while those in the 41-60 age group were 79.1 ± 23.9, 70.9 ± 33.1 and 68.4 ± 15.2 min, respectively."
"The GEt1/2 of the 20-40 year-old subjects who took the lactobacillus increased. This indicated that the lactobacillus regimen does not promote the effect of gastric emptying. Meanwhile, the GEt1/2 of the 41-60 year-old subjects who took the lactobacillus decreased. This indicated that the lactic acid bacteria regimen does endorse the effect of gastric emptying."
"In this study, BMI between 20 to 25 were assigned as the BMI normal group, while the others were assigned as the BMI abnormal group. The results showed that after the subjects with normal BMI took lactobacillus, their gastric emptying time did not decrease. However, after the subjects with abnormal BMI took lactobacillus, their gastric emptying time decreased. Therefore, for people with abnormal BMI, taking lactobacillus might improve their gastric emptying function."
Also, here is another excerpt:
GoodRx Health: Some people may wonder if probiotics help with gastroparesis. The science isn’t clear on whether they’re helpful. One study found that probiotics might be helpful for improving delayed stomach emptying. But larger studies are needed to confirm these benefits. Plus, some experts report that taking probiotics might worsen bloating caused gastroparesis.

Hope someone can share their experience!

Hi Annabelle
Thanks for this information. i am not sure what they are defining as an "abnormal BMI" i.e. someone with a BMI above the 20-25 range or below! i am below - since i cannot eat properly - so my BMI is 17-18..
Yes, i meant the gastric emptying time decreasing (the minutes should be lower) - i said increasing thinking the food should exit the stomach faster LOL

Hi @denisef -
The study strangely defined abnormal as any outside the normal range of 20-25 so it appears they lumped the low BMI and high BMI into one category - definitely squirrely IMHO!! These non-pharmaceutically based studies often lack scientific rigor. BTW it also looked like their may be a potential placebo effect in the study with the older population.
I am a little confused - have you been diagnosed with gastroparesis (high gastric retention time meaning food stays in your stomach longer than normal) or gastric dumping (low gastric retention time meaning that food doesn't stay in your stomach as long as it should)?
I guess I was a little confused about the title of the original post "Gastroparesis and Lactobacillus Probiotic."
Has your medical team recommended a diet to help with your condition? For gastroparesis my medical team recommended low-fat-low-fiber and I am a lacto-ovo vegetarian and that describes my diet so I have had to make quite a lot of changes!
Hope you can find some help!

I have and it was a game-changer for me. I still have issues but things are much better than they were. I also use Keifr when I need to (sometimes I make it myself). I think it should be something everyone should try. And I have found it can help depression and anxiety.

@catmomma - I like Keifer as well and find it satisfying and delicious! I have never tried to make it myself so that is something to try. I find that my husband even will drink it and he is generally not a big yogurt fan - he likes the blueberry or peach flavors!
Thank you for sharing!

I'm 85 now.. male.. I have had post operative gastropanesis since a local surgeon damaged (in 2015) the nerves that empty the stomach.. Mayo MN figured out the problem in a day.. and gave me a way to cope.. I started to use the prebiotic pills but on advice of a biochemist friend I switched to Kifer.. a fermented dairy product.. and Pydalyte...solution as my primary liquid... I drink coffee and very little booze...never any carbonated.. an that switch has made my system work well..for 5 years now.. I use the 3.5 butterfat type of Kifer..

It's very easy to make it. YouTube has great videos-you just need to activate the grains (I bought mine on Amazon), and then just keep on top of it-before you know it, you will have more keifr than you know what to do with.

This is a how-to video on how to make keifr. The fermentation process makes it easier to tolerate in terms of dairy. You can also make water keifr-the process is essentially the same-you simply add some natural sugar (I've used sugar in the raw added to water).

Activate the grains first:

slow stomach emptying - food sits in stomach for hours - proven on gastric emptying study.. every GI doc i have seen knows nothing about this condition. one told me i can drink Ensure the rest of my life - people can live on it - i never went back to him again! I have found that unless you go to a Gastroparesis Center (usually a university hospital) the regular GI docs know next to nothing about treating this condition with regards to lifestyle management etc - except for the obvious - eat soft, easy to digest foods, and become "very good friends" with your blender!! i stop eating anything solid at 2 p.m. - otherwise i have a terrible time laying down at night. i still have issues laying down at night - even stopping eating at 2 pm = since that food is still in my stomach at 10 p.m!! i can only sleep on my stomach - either side or back i get instant dull aching pain and nausea. i tried a wedge - it is not upright enough.. i recently found out (by myself) that the dull aching has a lot to do with gas pain (food sitting "rotting" in the stomach making gas). i was burping a lot and started taking GasX and that has helped IMMENSELY! Much less aching pain. i was waking up every 1-1/2 hours and now if i take it before i lay down i can sleep for 5-6 hours which i haven't done in months and months!

@denisef - so glad that gasx helped you. I have used that as well. I am so sorry to hear that you can't eat food past 2pm. It is important to have a good relationship with your medical team and know when to look for a different doctor. My GI was the one to recommend pausing the metformin for 30 days. I am not suggesting that you try this but you may want to discuss any potential pharmaceutical causes with your medical team. In preparation for my recent gastric Emptying test, I was instructed to stop Farxiga 3 days and Metformin the day before the test and felt better off the meds! My stomach Emptying was normal with delay in emptying of the small intestine. I am monitoring my blood glucose with a meter. There is another thread on Gastroparesis and Metformin you may interest you. I hope you find some answers to allow more flexibility in your diet. Wishing you the best!