Motilin is a hormone produced in the small intestine that stimulates gastric motility and regulates the Migrating Motor Complex (MMC). In critically ill patients, motilin production may be altered. A study investigating GI hormone levels in critically ill patients undergoing gastric feeding did not find any difference in motilin levels between patients that tolerated enteral nutrition and those that did not.
References:
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- Deloose E, Verbeure W, Depoortere I, Tack J. Motilin: from gastric motility stimulation to hunger signalling. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2019 Apr;15(4):238e50.
- Crona D, MacLaren R. Gastrointestinal hormone concentrations associated with gastric feeding in critically ill patients. JPEN – J Parenter Enter Nutr 2012;36(2):189e96