Borborigmi

What are the Borborigmi?

The borborygmi are noises produced by the gastric and intestinal activity, similar to gurgling and perceived with variable frequency by all people.

Why Do They Appear?

From a physiological point of view, the origin of borborygmas is attributed to the progression of gases inside the intestinal lumen, associated with digestive processes on the one hand and fasting on the other.

Digestive secretions and peristaltic movements increase in fact even in fasting conditions, in order to prepare the digestive system for the immediate arrival of food; the same response is also generated by similar stimuli, such as the sight and smell of dishes, the noise of cutlery, plates, cooking and even the thought of food itself.

The origin of borborygmas can be gastric or intestinal (small intestine) and, as you can easily guess, the absence of digested material inside the viscera tends to amplify the sound intensity.

Possible Pathological Causes

As anticipated, the cause of borborygmas can be absolutely physiological or - in the case of increased frequency and intensity - accompanied by morbid conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, bleeding and intestinal obstructions. In all these situations, borborygmas are typically associated with other gastrointestinal symptoms, such as bloating, abdominal cramps, diarrhea and bloating.

The exalted perception of borborygmi after a meal can also be linked to the ingestion of foods to which one is intolerant (for example milk) or otherwise able to promote the genesis of intestinal gas (legumes, foods rich in sugars, meals too abundant and varied).

Ultimately, strong borborygmas may also be due to the intake of particular drugs that interfere with the absorption of nutrients; this is the case, for example, of acarbose used in the presence of diabetes or obesity.