Role of vagal tone in Rumination Syndrome

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Rumination syndrome: Role of vagal tone and effect of respiratory manoeuvres on severity and frequency of rumination.

  • IRAS ID

    255388

  • Contact name

    Daniel Sifrim

  • Contact email

    d.sifrim@qmul.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Joint Research Management Office, Queen Mary, University of London

  • Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

    NCT03912636

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 0 months, 31 days

  • Research summary

    Rumination syndrome is a condition in which people repeatedly and unintentionally regurgitate food from the stomach and either re-swallow it or spit it out. The mechanism of the disease is not well understood. We believe that discomfort in the stomach during and immediately after meal may be an important factor and we can assess it with cardiac vagal tone (CVT), which is measured by electrocardiogram (ECG) and thought to be a parameter of pain perception.
    Diaphragmatic breathing (DiaB) is a common treatment for rumination syndrome, but the mechanism is unknown. Slow deep breathing (SlowDB) is used as a therapy for increased pain in the food pipe and it might also be effective on rumination syndrome. We believe that both DiaB and SlowDB can improve rumination by modifying pain perception and CVT. To investigate them, we will perform 2 studies.
    In Study1, 10 rumination patients and 10 healthy volunteers (HVs) will perform DiaB/SlowDB/normal breathing after the test meal. We will compare the change of CVT and short-term effect of 3 respiratory exercises on rumination. In study 2, 10 rumination patients perform DiaB/SlowDB in their daily life and we will compare their long-term effects on rumination.

  • REC name

    South East Scotland REC 01

  • REC reference

    19/SS/0054

  • Date of REC Opinion

    25 Apr 2019

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion