Otherindependent cross-checkabstract checked I-WHT-102 standard review
White bread does not stay longer in the stomach than wholemeal
Gastric emptying of wholemeal and white bread.
Overview
Grimes DS et al.. Gut 1977 · PMID 604193 · DOI 10.1136/gut.18.9.725
Isotope measurements showed the same emptying of solids for white and wholemeal bread.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: low
Plain-language summary
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Compare stomach emptying of breads.
- How was the study done?
Isotope study.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
Small group of volunteers.
- What was actually found?
Solids emptied equally.
- How large was the observed effect?
No difference.
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
White bread is not "stuck".
- What are the study's limitations?
Old, small.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Contradicts the claim.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
High.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Does not test reflux symptoms.
Scientific in-depth review
1. Full reference
- Authors
- Grimes DS et al.
- Journal
- Gut
- Year
- 1977
- Identifier
- PMID 604193 DOI 10.1136/gut.18.9.725 · PMC1411638
- Verification
- verified – PubMed efetch 2026-10-26; Crossref works API 2026-10-26
- Retracted
- no
- Corrections
- none
- Extent checked
- abstract only
- Conflicts of interest and funding
not stated in abstract
2. Research question
Do wholemeal and white bread meals empty differently from the stomach?
3. Study design and population
- Study design
- Other – Comparative physiological study (double isotope gastric emptying)
- Population
Volunteers
- Country
not stated in abstract
- Period
1970s
- Sample size
not stated in abstract
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria
not stated in abstract
4. Methods and endpoints
- Exposure / intervention
White bread meal
- Comparator
Wholemeal bread meal
- Endpoints
Emptying of solid and liquid phases
- Statistical methods
Comparative
5. Actual results
- Results
No difference in solid-phase emptying; liquid left the stomach faster after white bread, and more unbuffered liquid left after white bread.
- Absolute risks
not reported
- Authors' conclusion
Findings may matter for duodenal ulcer pathogenesis and suggest a possible dietary treatment.
6. Strengths
- Direct isotope measurement
7. Weaknesses
- Old, small
- Sample size not in abstract
8. Risk of bias
- Orienting tool
- none applicable
- Type of assessment
- simplified assessment (abstract only)
- Full formal assessment
- no
- Overall risk of bias
- some concerns
- Rationale
Early physiological study.
9. Assessment of the statistical interpretation
Solid emptying equal: no evidence of white bread sticking in the stomach.
10. Relevance to the specific claim
White bread solids left the stomach at the same rate as wholemeal.
11. Independent contrary findings
Liquid-phase difference (faster with white bread) is opposite to "stuck".
12. Transferability to Germany and Europe
High.
13. Overall methodological judgement
Old but direct.
| Multidimensional assessment | |
|---|---|
| Authenticity of the source | verified |
| Methodological quality | low |
| Risk of bias | some concerns |
| Precision of results | low |
| Directness | direct |
| Reproducibility | partly replicated |
| Consistency with the overall evidence | consistent |
| Regional transferability | high |
| Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive) | not applicable |
14. Open questions
None.