Objective      To determine the effect of ageing on gastric emptying and intragastric distribution of food.       Methods      Fifty healthy volunteers were divided into young group

middle-age group and old-age group. After the volunteers took the test meal labeled by

99m

Tc-DTPA

gastric emptying and intragastric distribution of food were examined in all volunteers by single photon emission computed tomography. Their stomachs were divided into proximal part and distal part. The half gastric emptying time

end amount of 90 min

areas of different gastric parts

and count/pixel ratio were tested in

given time.       Results      In the old-age group

half gastric emptying time was reduced in the proximal gastric part (P0.05)

and the end amount of 90 min was increased in the distal gastric part (P0.05). Areas of the proximal gastric part in 60 min and 90 min were reduced in the old-age group (P0.05)

while areas of the distal gastric part in 30 min

60 min and 90 min were increased significantly. Count/pixel ratios of the distal gastric part in 30 min and 90 min were increased significantly in the old-age group (P0.05).       Conclusion      The gastric emptying is not changed with ageing

but the intragastric distribution of food in the old-age group shows a difference during gastric emptying.