Gastric emptying after pickle-juice ingestion in rested, euhydrated humans.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Crossover trial evaluating physiological responses in human participants.
PubMed 21062184 · doi:10.4085/1062-6050-45.6.601
What was done
Ten rested, euhydrated, and eunatremic men (mean age 25.4 ± 0.7 years) ingested 7 mL·kg⁻¹ body mass of either pickle juice (PJ) or deionized water (DIW) on separate days in a crossover laboratory study. Gastric volume was measured via the phenol red dilution technique at 0, 5, 10, 20, and 30 minutes post-ingestion. Percentage changes in plasma volume and plasma sodium concentration were evaluated pre-ingestion (-45 minutes) and at 5, 10, 20, and 30 minutes post-ingestion.
What was found
Initial gastric volumes were comparable between fluids (PJ: 624.5 ± 27.4 mL; DIW: 659.5 ± 43.8 mL; P > .05). In the first 5 minutes, 219.2 ± 39.1 mL of PJ emptied versus 305.0 ± 40.5 mL of DIW (P < .05). Gastric emptying halted after 5 minutes for PJ (P > .05 for further emptying), whereas DIW continued to empty, reaching a residual volume of 111.6 ± 39.9 mL at 30 minutes (P < .05). DIW emptied significantly faster than PJ between 20 and 30 minutes (P < .05). At 5 minutes post-ingestion, plasma volume decreased by 4.8% ± 1.6% and plasma sodium increased by 1.6 ± 0.5 mmol·L⁻¹ after PJ ingestion (P < .05), with similar shifts observed for DIW; calculated total plasma sodium content remained unchanged for both fluids (P > .05).
Why it matters
Because pickle juice relieves muscle cramps within 85 seconds but ceases to empty from the stomach after 5 minutes without altering systemic sodium content, its therapeutic effect is likely mediated by neural reflexes rather than gastrointestinal electrolyte absorption.
Limits
The sample size was small (n = 10) and restricted to young, healthy, euhydrated men at rest. The study did not measure neurological reflex pathways directly, nor did it evaluate participants under active exercise, dehydration, or cramping conditions.
Cited by
- supports Acetic acid in pickle juice activates sensory receptors in the mouth and throat to trigger a reflex in the brain that calms sensory and motor nerve activity.