Changes in Gastric Emptying Rates with Age

A dual isotope technique which measures simultaneously the emptying of solids and liquids by the stomach was used to study gastric emptying in 35 subjects in the age range 21-84 years, who were all fit, mobile volunteers and were not taking any drugs. Solid and liquid emptying were significantly slower in older subjects, but this finding is unlikely to be of clinical significance because the changes were small and emptying rates were usually within the normal range for younger subjects.