Fasting plasma motilin levels are related to the interdigestive motility complex.

Fluctuations of plasma motilin and gastrin levels were analyzed in relation to the interdigestive motor complex in humans, taking the onset of a duodenal activity front (phase 3 of the complex) as a reference point and the time lapse between two fronts as a time base. Statistical analysis showed a close relation between motilin fluctuations and the occurrence of duodenal activity fronts.