Cholecystokinin and stomach distension combine to reduce food intake in humans.

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that gastric distension can enhance the effect of cholecystokinin (CCK) on reduction of food intake in men and women. Eight normal-weight subjects of each gender were tested four times each with either CCK or saline infusion crossed with gastric distension or no distension. Intravenous infusion of a low dose of CCK octapeptide (CCK-8; 112 ng/min for 23 min) combined with a subthreshold gastric distension induced by a water-filled balloon (300 ml) resulted in a significant (means +/- SED: 191 +/- 61 g in men, 209 +/- 61 g in women, and 200 +/- 43 g combined) reduction in intake of a liquid meal compared with saline infusion and unfilled gastric balloon. This combined effect was the result of a large and significant CCK effect when the stomach was distended (CCK vs. saline with distension: 169 +/- 43 g) and a small and insignificant distension effect (distension vs. no distension without CCK: 31 +/- 43 g). The CCK effect alone on intake (CCK vs. saline) without distension was not significant in men (72 +/- 61 g) but was significant in women (121 +/- 61 g). These results are consistent with the hypothesis that CCK's suppression of food intake is enhanced when the stomach is distended.