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The Effect of taVNS and Upper GI Motility

2 juni 2026 bijgewerkt door: Daniel Keszthelyi

The Effect of Non-invasive Transauricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Upper Gastrointestinal Motility in Healthy Individuals

This single-center randomized controlled cross-over trial aims to investigate the effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on upper gastrointestinal motility in healthy individuals.

The primary aim of this study is to assess the impact of tVNS on gut motor function, with regards to its potential to induce phase III contractions in the upper GI tract.

Secondary objectives include:

  • To study the effect of tVNS on other parameters characterizing upper GI motility such as the number of duodenal phase III contractions, gastric and duodenal phase MMCs, amplitude of antral contractions and motility index
  • To study the effect of tVNS on plasma levels of motilin and PP
  • To evaluate the effect of tVNS on parameters related to autonomic outflow, using a Shimmer3 GSR Sensor for heart rate variability and skin conductance.
  • To compare the results of the measurements of antroduodenal manometry with measurements of Gastric Alimetry

Participants will undergo tVNS (applied to the cymba conchae of the left ear) alternating with sham stimulation (using a non-conducting electrode) in a blinded, pre-randomized fashion, using two 4-hour blocks during an 8-hour fasted antroduodenal manometry recording period. Optionally, participants may simultaneously also undergo body surface gastric mapping using the Gastric Alimetry system.

Studie Overzicht

Toestand

Werving

Conditie

Interventie / Behandeling

Gedetailleerde beschrijving

Visit 1 (screening visit) Following written informed consent, the medical history of each subject will be checked during a structured interview. A pregnancy will be excluded by a urine test (due to the use or fluoroscopy during insertion of the manometry catheter) and a 12-lead ECG will be performed at the end of the screening visit. The rationale for this is to ensure no evidence of cardiac conduction disorders and an additional safety step to ensure no cardiac dysrhythmic affect with tVNS use. All information obtained during the screening visit will be recorded in using an electronic CRF provided by Castor EDC, provided by the Clinical Trial Centre Maastricht (CTCM).

Visit 2 (test day) Participants will arrive after an overnight fast at the GI physiology unit of the Maastricht University Medical Center, where a trained and experienced nurse will insert an antroduodenal manometry catheter through the nose into the duodenum under fluoroscopy control and supervision of a gastroenterologist (as per routine clinical procedure). Using this catheter, stomach and duodenum motility patterns will be recorded for 8 hours. After the manometry is inserted, the tVNS device will be connected with an electrode which delivers stimulation transcutaneous in the outer ear. Participants will receive two types of stimulation (i.e. tVNS vs sham) in 2 blocks of 4 hours during the 8-hour registration period. The order of stimulation applied is randomized. Gastric phase III contractions generally occur every 90 minutes, so the 4-hour period is considered sufficient to detect two phase III contractions considered sufficient to detect the two phase III contractions.(10)

An iv catheter will be inserted to draw blood during the 8-hour registration period. Blood samples, each witch a maximum volume of 10 mL, will be taken every 30 minutes to measure motilin and PP as surrogate markers of vagal efferent influence on GI motor function. In addition, autonomic parameters will be registered during the entire test period, using a Shimmer3 GSR sensor. After the 8-hour test period, the manometry catheter, the electrodes of the tVNS device and the iv cannula are removed.

Additionally, participants may opt to take part in a body surface gastric mapping assessment. This non-invasive, electrophysiological measurement is performed using the Gastric Alimetry system, which involves placing a large adhesive patch with multiple electrodes on the upper abdomen. The system records gastric myoelectrical activity over time, providing insight into gastric motility patterns. The measurement is conducted concurrently with the manometry registration period.

Studietype

Ingrijpend

Inschrijving (Geschat)

12

Fase

  • Niet toepasbaar

Contacten en locaties

In dit gedeelte vindt u de contactgegevens van degenen die het onderzoek uitvoeren en informatie over waar dit onderzoek wordt uitgevoerd.

Studiecontact

Studie Locaties

  • Nederland
    • Limburg
      • Maastricht, Limburg, Nederland, 6229ER
        • Werving
        • Maastricht University

Deelname Criteria

Onderzoekers zoeken naar mensen die aan een bepaalde beschrijving voldoen, de zogenaamde geschiktheidscriteria. Enkele voorbeelden van deze criteria zijn iemands algemene gezondheidstoestand of eerdere behandelingen.

Geschiktheidscriteria

Leeftijden die in aanmerking komen voor studie

  • Volwassen

Accepteert gezonde vrijwilligers

Ja

Beschrijving

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Healthy participants (defined as those without a pre-existing medical comorbidity, including those without a history of cardiac arrhythmia).
  • Age between 18 and 55 years.
  • Ability to understand and speak the Dutch language.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnancy or lactation.
  • Use of any substances (such as medication or recreational drugs) influencing gastrointestinal motility
  • Not meeting the inclusion criteria above.
  • Students and employees of Maastricht University are not precluded from participation, unless they have a direct personal, professional of hierarchical position with regards to any of the study team members or their department.

Studie plan

Dit gedeelte bevat details van het studieplan, inclusief hoe de studie is opgezet en wat de studie meet.

Hoe is de studie opgezet?

Ontwerpdetails

  • Primair doel: Ander
  • Toewijzing: Gerandomiseerd
  • Interventioneel model: Crossover-opdracht
  • Masker: Verdrievoudigen

Wapens en interventies

Deelnemersgroep / Arm
Interventie / Behandeling
Actieve vergelijker: Transcutaneous Auricular Vagal Nerve Stimulation
TaVNS
Apparaat: Vagal Nerve Stimulation
taVNS will be provided during a 4-hour block of the 8-hour fasted antroduodenal manometry recording period.
Placebo-vergelijker: Sham stimulation
Sham stimulation with a non-conducting electrode
Apparaat: Sham stimulation
Sham stimulation will be provided during a 4-hour block of the 8-hour fasted antroduodenal manometry recording period.

Wat meet het onderzoek?

Primaire uitkomstmaten

Uitkomstmaat
Maatregel Beschrijving
Tijdsspanne
A clinically meaningful increase in phase III contractions
Tijdsspanne: Assessed during one single test day, from pre-intervention baseline to post-stimulation (approximately 8-9 hours)
A clinically meaningful increase in the number of phase III contractions of antral origin in the fasted period during the tVNS stimulation compared to the sham stimulation.
Assessed during one single test day, from pre-intervention baseline to post-stimulation (approximately 8-9 hours)

Secundaire uitkomstmaten

Uitkomstmaat
Maatregel Beschrijving
Tijdsspanne
A clinically relevant increase in other upper GI motility parameters
Tijdsspanne: Assessed during one single test day, from pre-intervention baseline to post-stimulation (approximately 8-9 hours)
A clinically relevant increase in other parameters characterizing upper GI motility such as the number of duodenal phase III contractions, gastric and duodenal phase MMCs, amplitude of antral contractions and motility index
Assessed during one single test day, from pre-intervention baseline to post-stimulation (approximately 8-9 hours)
Concentration of plasma motilin and pancreatic polypeptide
Tijdsspanne: Assessed during one single test day, from pre-intervention baseline to post-stimulation (approximately 8-9 hours)
Changes in plasma motilin and pancreatic polypeptide following taVNS vs. sham stimulation
Assessed during one single test day, from pre-intervention baseline to post-stimulation (approximately 8-9 hours)
Autonomic response: heart rate variability
Tijdsspanne: Assessed during one single test day, from pre-intervention baseline to post-stimulation (approximately 8-9 hours)
Changes in heart rate variability measured continuously using a Shimmer3 GSR sensor
Assessed during one single test day, from pre-intervention baseline to post-stimulation (approximately 8-9 hours)
Electrodermal response: skin conductance
Tijdsspanne: Assessed during one single test day, from pre-intervention baseline to post-stimulation (approximately 8-9 hours)
Changes in skin conductance following taVNS vs sham stimulation, assessed continuously using a Shimmer3 GSR sensor.
Assessed during one single test day, from pre-intervention baseline to post-stimulation (approximately 8-9 hours)
Agreement between gastric motility measurements obtained by antroduodenal manometry and Gastric Alimetry
Tijdsspanne: Assessed during one single test day, from pre-intervention baseline to post-stimulation (approximately 8-9 hours)
Agreement between antroduodenal manometry and Gastric Alimetry measurements obtained simultaneously.
Assessed during one single test day, from pre-intervention baseline to post-stimulation (approximately 8-9 hours)

Medewerkers en onderzoekers

Hier vindt u mensen en organisaties die betrokken zijn bij dit onderzoek.

Sponsor

Daniel Keszthelyi

Onderzoekers

  • Hoofdonderzoeker: Daniel Keszthelyi, MD, PhD, Maastricht University Medical Center

Studie record data

Deze datums volgen de voortgang van het onderzoeksdossier en de samenvatting van de ingediende resultaten bij ClinicalTrials.gov. Studieverslagen en gerapporteerde resultaten worden beoordeeld door de National Library of Medicine (NLM) om er zeker van te zijn dat ze voldoen aan specifieke kwaliteitscontrolenormen voordat ze op de openbare website worden geplaatst.

Bestudeer belangrijke data

Studie start (Werkelijk)

25 februari 2025

Primaire voltooiing (Geschat)

1 juni 2026

Studie voltooiing (Geschat)

1 juni 2026

Studieregistratiedata

Eerst ingediend

26 mei 2026

Eerst ingediend dat voldeed aan de QC-criteria

2 juni 2026

Eerst geplaatst (Werkelijk)

8 juni 2026

Updates van studierecords

Laatste update geplaatst (Werkelijk)

8 juni 2026

Laatste update ingediend die voldeed aan QC-criteria

2 juni 2026

Laatst geverifieerd

1 juni 2026

Meer informatie

Termen gerelateerd aan deze studie

Trefwoorden

Aanvullende relevante MeSH-voorwaarden

Andere studie-ID-nummers

  • NL86446.068.24

Plan Individuele Deelnemersgegevens (IPD)

Bent u van plan om gegevens van individuele deelnemers (IPD) te delen?

NEE

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Bestudeert een door de Amerikaanse FDA gereguleerd geneesmiddel

Nee

Bestudeert een door de Amerikaanse FDA gereguleerd apparaatproduct

Nee

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