Mapping human gastric motility using contrast-enhanced MRI with a natural test meal

MRI with oral contrast agents has been increasingly used to image the gastrointestinal tract in animals and humans. However, it has not been established for broad clinical applications. This study describes a set of natural ingredients abundant in manganese ions to enable rapid and contrast-enhanced MRI of the human gastrointestinal tract. A pipeline of advanced analyses reveals the structure of the stomach, dynamic transit of the food inside the stomach, and muscle activity of the stomach wall. Results offer quantitative biomarkers and mechanistic insights for gastric emptying, accommodation, and motility in humans, and merit future studies of gastrointestinal functional disorders.