Effects of sitagliptin on gastric emptying in healthy subjects.

This purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of sitagliptin on gastric emptying, intragastric meal distribution, postprandial glycaemia and insulinaemia in healthy subjects. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) inhibits gastric emptying, thereby slowing the delivery of nutrients, and their absorption, across the small intestine. The rate of entry of carbohydrate into the small intestine is especially important in patients with diabetes. Sitagliptin is an orally administered inhibitor of dipeptidyl-peptidase-IV (DPP-IV), the enzyme responsible for the degradation of GLP-1. It is hypothesised that sitagliptin will increase the GLP-1 response to, and thereby slow gastric emptying and diminish the glycaemic response to, a carbohydrate-containing meal.