Small intestinal motor activity is important for the optimal digestion and absorption of nutrients. These motor responses to feeding are frequently abnormal during critical illness, with the persistence of migrating bursts of contractions during enteral feeding. Whether this disturbance influences nutrient absorption is not known. In this study, the effects of small intestinal burst activity on lipid and glucose absorption were evaluated in 10 healthy human adults (6 males, 4 females, 19-47 yr). Upper gastrointestinal manometry was recorded for 6 h during and shortly after a 20-min intravenous infusion of either erythromycin (1 mg/kg), to stimulate burst activity, or saline (0.9%) in a double-blind randomized fashion. Simultaneously with the start of the intravenous infusion, 60 ml liquid feed mixed with 200 microl 13C-triolein and 2 g 3-O-methylglucose (3-OMG) was infused intraduodenally for 30 min. Absorption of lipid and glucose was assessed using the [13C]triolein breath test and plasma concentrations of 3-OMG, respectively. Infusion of erythromycin was followed by a more rapid onset of burst activity following commencement of the duodenal infusion compared with saline (30 +/- 6.1 vs. 58 +/- 10.7 min; P < 0.05). Erythromycin was associated with a slower recovery of 13CO2 (P < 0.01). A positive correlation existed between the time to onset of burst activity and 13CO2 recovery (P < 0.001). Erythromycin had no effect on 3-OMG absorption. In conclusion, stimulation of small intestinal burst activity reduces the rate of lipid absorption but not glucose absorption in healthy human adults.