Intestinal Electrical Stimulation

Intestinal electrical stimulation has been proposed as a novel therapy for gastrointestinal motility disorders – in which food does not move at a normal pace through the gut – and for obesity. Mild electrical stimulation of the intestinal tract has been shown in preclinical studies to inhibit gastric contractions, gastric emptying, food intake, and to have an effect on body weight.

Reviewed March 4, 2012
Lawrence Poree, MD, PhD
Member, International Neuromodulation Society
Professor, University of California School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesia, San Francisco CA, USA

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