Functional Dyspepsia and Symptom Perception

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a heterogeneous disorder with multifactorial pathophysiology. Patients with FD have visceral hypersensitivity to mechanical and chemical stimuli. Several previous studies have described an increased chemosensitivity to oral capsaicin ingestion. Capsaicin is a natural agonist of TRPV-1 receptors present on afferent sensory neurons. Activation of the TRPV-1 receptor by capsaicin or other agonists results in the release of several neuropeptides (i.e. substance P, somatostatin). Besides, increased duodenal permeability and disruption of tight junction structure in FD patients compared to healthy volunteers has been reported in a recent study. In this observational study investigators will evaluate the role of the TRPV-1 neuropeptide pathway in patients with functional dyspepsia and healthy controls.


Eligibility Criteria:
Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria:

- No gastrointestinal symptoms or history of gastrointestinal disease meeting ROME III criteria for functional dyspepsia and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

Exclusion criteria:

* Inability to stop the intake of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) within 14 days prior to endoscopy and within two days prior to multi-sugar test.
* Inability to stop the intake of medication affecting gastrointestinal function (e.g. proton pump inhibitors, prokinetics, laxatives) within 5 days prior to endoscopy, multi-sugar test and combined meal- and gastric emptying test
* Current use of antidepressants
* Medical history of diabetes mellitus
* Medical history of coeliac disease
* Organic disease at upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (i.e. erosive esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus, benign esophageal stricture, Schatzki ring, esophageal carcinoma, esophageal candidiasis, gastric ulcer, gastric erosions, gastric cancer, duodenal erosions or duodenal ulcer)
* First-degree family members with diabetes mellitus type I, coeliac disease, Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis
* Medical history of food allergy or anamnestic evidence of food allergy
* Presence of coagulation disorders or use of the following anticoagulants: coumarin derivates, new oral anticoagulants (NOACs: dabigatran, apixaban and rivaroxaban), and clopidogrel (Patients or healthy controls using calcium carbasalate (acetylsalicylic acid 100mg 1dd1) are eligible to participate in the study. Patients or healthy controls using higher doses of calcium carbasalate will be excluded from the study).
* Dieting
* Pregnancy or lactation
* Smoking
* Excessive alcohol use (\>20 alcoholic consumptions/week) and inability to avoid use of alcohol in the 2 days prior to endoscopy and multi-sugar test

Functional dyspepsia patients

Inclusion criteria:

- Patients referred for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy by either general practitioners or physicians from the gastroenterology outpatient clinic and meeting ROME III criteria for functional dyspepsia.

Exclusion criteria:

* Inability to stop the intake of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) within 14 days prior to endoscopy and within two days prior to multi-sugar test.
* Inability to stop the intake of medication affecting gastrointestinal function (e.g. proton pump inhibitors, prokinetics, laxatives) within 5 days prior to endoscopy, multi-sugar test and combined meal- and gastric emptying test
* Current use of antidepressants
* Medical history of diabetes mellitus
* Medical history of coeliac disease
* Organic disease at upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (i.e. erosive esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus, benign esophageal stricture, Schatzki ring, esophageal carcinoma, esophageal candidiasis, gastric ulcer, gastric erosions, gastric cancer, duodenal erosions or duodenal ulcer)
* First-degree family members with diabetes mellitus type I, coeliac disease, Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis
* Medical history of food allergy or anamnestic evidence of food allergy
* Presence of coagulation disorders or use of the following anticoagulants: coumarin derivates, new oral anticoagulants (NOACs: dabigatran, apixaban and rivaroxaban), and clopidogrel (Patients or healthy controls using calcium carbasalate (acetylsalicylic acid 100mg 1dd1) are eligible to participate in the study. Patients or healthy controls using higher doses of calcium carbasalate will be excluded from the study).
* Dieting
* Pregnancy or lactation
* Smoking
* Excessive alcohol use (\>20 alcoholic consumptions/week) and inability to avoid use of alcohol in the 2 days prior to endoscopy and multi-sugar test