Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Gut logoLink to Gut
. 1988 Aug;29(8):1035–1041. doi: 10.1136/gut.29.8.1035

Measurement of gastrointestinal pH profiles in normal ambulant human subjects.

D F Evans 1, G Pye 1, R Bramley 1, A G Clark 1, T J Dyson 1, J D Hardcastle 1
PMCID: PMC1433896  PMID: 3410329

Abstract

Gastrointestinal (GI) pH has been measured in 66 normal subjects using a pH sensitive radiotelemetry capsule passing freely through the gastrointestinal tract. Signals were recorded with a portable solid state receiver and recording system, enabling unconstrained measurements with normal ambulatory activities for up to 48 h during normal GI transit. Capsule position in the gut was monitored by surface location using a directional detector. Gastric pH was highly acidic (range 1.0-2.5) in all subjects. The mean pH in the proximal small intestine was 6.6 (0.5) for the first hour of intestinal recording. By comparison the mean pH in the terminal ileum was 7.5 (0.4) (p less than 0.001). In all subjects there was a sharp fall in pH to a mean of 6.4 (0.4) (p less than 0.001) as the capsule passed into the caecum. Values are means (SD). pH then rose progressively from the right to the left colon with a final mean value of 7.0 (0.7) (p less than 0.001).

Full text

PDF
1035

Images in this article

1036Fig. 1
on p.1036

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Atkinson M. Monitoring oesophageal pH. Gut. 1987 May;28(5):509–514. doi: 10.1136/gut.28.5.509. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bown R. L., Gibson J. A., Sladen G. E., Hicks B., Dawson A. M. Effects of lactulose and other laxatives on ileal and colonic pH as measured by a radiotelemetry device. Gut. 1974 Dec;15(12):999–1004. doi: 10.1136/gut.15.12.999. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Branicki F. J., Evans D. F., Ogilvie A. L., Atkinson M., Hardcastle J. D. Ambulatory monitoring of oesophageal pH in reflux oesophagitis using a portable radiotelemetry system. Gut. 1982 Nov;23(11):992–998. doi: 10.1136/gut.23.11.992. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Colson R. H., Watson B. W., Fairclough P. D., Walker-Smith J. A., Campbell C. A., Bellamy D., Hinsull S. M. An accurate, long-term, pH-sensitive radio pill for ingestion and implantation. Biotelem Patient Monit. 1981;8(4):213–227. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Doll R. The geographical distribution of cancer. Br J Cancer. 1969 Mar;23(1):1–8. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1969.1. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Evans D. F. Twenty-four hour ambulatory oesophageal pH monitoring: an update. Br J Surg. 1987 Mar;74(3):157–161. doi: 10.1002/bjs.1800740303. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Gilbert J., Kelleher J., Littlewood J. M., Evans D. F. Ileal pH in cystic fibrosis. Scand J Gastroenterol Suppl. 1988;143:132–134. doi: 10.3109/00365528809090233. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Hill M. J. Bacteria and the etiology of colonic cancer. Cancer. 1974 Sep;34(3):suppl–suppl:818. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(197409)34:3+<815::aid-cncr2820340705>3.0.co;2-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Jacob R., Riddle H., Watson B. W. Circuit for searching for a signal from a three aerial system during inductive loop telemetry. Biomed Eng. 1973 Jul;8(7):292–295. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Narisawa T., Magadia N. E., Weisburger J. H., Wynder E. L. Promoting effect of bile acids on colon carcinogenesis after intrarectal instillation of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine in rats. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1974 Oct;53(4):1093–1097. doi: 10.1093/jnci/53.4.1093. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Reddy B. S., Watanabe K., Weisburger J. H., Wynder E. L. Promoting effect of bile acids in colon carcinogenesis in germ-free and conventional F344 rats. Cancer Res. 1977 Sep;37(9):3238–3242. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Reynolds J. R., Walt R. P., Hardcastle J. D., Clark A. G., Smart H. L., Langman M. J. 24-hour intragastric pH: continuous monitoring or nasogastric aspiration? Digestion. 1986;33(4):219–224. doi: 10.1159/000199298. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Slater E. J., Evans D. F., Foster G. E., Hardcastle J. D. A portable radiotelemetry receiver for ambulatory monitoring. J Biomed Eng. 1982 Jul;4(3):247–251. doi: 10.1016/0141-5425(82)90010-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Stower M. J., Hardcastle J. D. The results of 1115 patients with colorectal cancer treated over an 8-year period in a single hospital. Eur J Surg Oncol. 1985 Jun;11(2):119–123. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Thornton J. R. High colonic pH promotes colorectal cancer. Lancet. 1981 May 16;1(8229):1081–1083. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(81)92244-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Walker A. R., Walker B. F., Segal I. Faecal pH value and its modification by dietary means in South African black and white schoolchildren. S Afr Med J. 1979 Mar 24;55(13):495–498. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Watson B. W., Meldrum S. J., Riddle H. C., Brown R. L., Sladen G. E. pH profile of gut as measured by radiotelemetry capsule. Br Med J. 1972 Apr 8;2(5805):104–106. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5805.104. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Gut are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES