Surreal illustration of digestive analysis using water and ultrasound.

Bloated? How a Simple Water Test Can Reveal Hidden Digestive Issues

Kai Mendoza in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"New research suggests a water-drinking ultrasound test can help diagnose the root causes of functional dyspepsia and guide more effective treatments."

Functional gastrointestinal disorders, characterized by symptoms like bloating and stomach pain, are a common problem. Often, standard endoscopies reveal no structural abnormalities, leading to a diagnosis of functional dyspepsia (FD). This condition, affecting a significant portion of the population, can negatively impact quality of life and lead to substantial healthcare costs.

Understanding the underlying causes of FD is crucial for developing effective treatments. While various diagnostic tests exist, many lack convenience or have limitations in evaluating gastric functions. Common symptoms include post-meal distress and epigastric pain, with FD patients often experiencing abnormalities in gut function, such as impaired accommodation (the stomach's ability to relax and expand after a meal), delayed emptying, and heightened sensitivity to stimuli.

Now, new research explores the potential of a water-drinking ultrasonography combined test (WDUCT) to assess gastric motility and sensory functions in individuals with FD. This approach offers a non-invasive, accessible method for evaluating stomach function and guiding more targeted treatment strategies.

The Water Test: Uncovering Hidden Digestive Issues

Surreal illustration of digestive analysis using water and ultrasound.

Researchers in Ukraine conducted a study involving 120 patients diagnosed with FD according to the Rome III criteria and 30 healthy volunteers. All participants underwent a water-drinking ultrasonography combined test (WDUCT). During the test, participants drank 200ml of water every 3 minutes, up to a total of 1000ml, while ultrasound measurements were taken to assess the stomach's response.

The WDUCT assessed several key factors:

Gastric Accommodation: Measured by the change in the cross-sectional area of the stomach's fundus (upper portion) before and after water intake.
Gastric Emptying: Evaluated by measuring the cross-sectional area of the fundus 5 and 10 minutes after completing the water intake.
Visceral Hypersensitivity: Participants rated their pain and discomfort levels during the water-drinking process using a 4-point Likert scale.

The study revealed significant differences between FD patients and healthy controls. FD patients showed impaired gastric accommodation after drinking 1000ml of water, delayed emptying, and increased sensitivity to stomach distension. These findings suggest that the WDUCT can effectively identify gastric motor and sensory dysfunction in FD patients.

Hope for Targeted Treatments

The study highlights the potential of the WDUCT as a valuable tool for diagnosing gastric motor and sensory dysfunction, particularly in patients with postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) and those with overlapping PDS and epigastric pain syndrome (EPS).

By identifying specific abnormalities in gastric function, the WDUCT could pave the way for more targeted therapies, such as medications that promote gastric accommodation or reduce visceral hypersensitivity. While current treatments for FD have limited effectiveness due to the poorly understood underlying mechanisms, this new diagnostic approach offers a path toward personalized treatment strategies.

The WDUCT is easy to perform, well-tolerated, and readily available in clinical practice, making it a promising tool for improving the diagnosis and management of functional dyspepsia and related digestive disorders.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.4166/kjg.2015.66.2.92, Alternate LINK

Title: The Usefulness Of Water-Drinking Ultrasonography Combined Test For Evaluating Patients With Functional Dyspepsia

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: The Korean Journal of Gastroenterology

Publisher: The Korean Society of Gastroenterology

Authors: Tatyana Kugler

Published: 2015-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is Functional Dyspepsia?

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a condition characterized by symptoms like bloating and stomach pain, where standard tests don't reveal structural problems. It's a common issue that can significantly affect someone's life and increase healthcare expenses. The article emphasizes that understanding the causes of FD is crucial for effective treatment. It often involves abnormalities in gut function, such as impaired accommodation, delayed emptying, and heightened sensitivity.

What is the water-drinking ultrasonography combined test (WDUCT)?

The water-drinking ultrasonography combined test (WDUCT) is a non-invasive method used to evaluate stomach function. It assesses Gastric Accommodation, measured by changes in the stomach's fundus area; Gastric Emptying, determined by changes in the fundus area after water intake; and Visceral Hypersensitivity, based on the patient's reported pain levels during the process. The WDUCT offers a way to assess gastric motility and sensory functions in people with FD, potentially identifying the underlying causes of their symptoms.

What does Gastric Accommodation mean and why is it important?

Gastric Accommodation is the stomach's ability to relax and expand to accommodate food or liquids. The WDUCT measures this by looking at how the stomach's fundus (the upper part) changes size after drinking water. Impaired accommodation means the stomach doesn't expand properly, which is a key finding in people with Functional Dyspepsia. This issue leads to post-meal distress, contributing to the symptoms of the condition.

What is Visceral Hypersensitivity and what does it mean for someone?

Visceral Hypersensitivity is an increased sensitivity to stimuli in the gut. During the water-drinking ultrasonography combined test (WDUCT), individuals rate their pain and discomfort using a scale. Those with FD often show heightened sensitivity. This suggests their stomachs react more strongly to normal processes like distension. Understanding Visceral Hypersensitivity helps doctors tailor treatments to address the specific sensory issues affecting patients with Functional Dyspepsia.

What were the key findings of the study using the WDUCT and what do they mean?

The study's results indicate that people with Functional Dyspepsia often experience impaired Gastric Accommodation, delayed emptying, and heightened Visceral Hypersensitivity. The Water-drinking Ultrasonography Combined Test (WDUCT) helped identify these issues. The findings of the WDUCT can help identify issues like postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) and overlapping PDS and epigastric pain syndrome (EPS). This suggests it can be a valuable tool for diagnosis and guide more specific treatments for people with FD.