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
Sponsor organisation
Joint Research Management Office, Queen Mary, University of London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
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