Prandial relates to a meal. Postprandial (from post prandium) means after eating a meal, while preprandial is before a meal.

Usages of postprandial

The term ''postprandial'' is used in multiple contexts.

Gastronomic or social

Refers to activities performed after a meal, such as drinking cocktails or smoking.

Medical

A common use is in relation to blood sugar (or blood

glucose Glucose is a sugar with the Chemical formula#Molecular formula, molecular formula , which is often abbreviated as Glc. It is overall the most abundant monosaccharide, a subcategory of carbohydrates. It is mainly made by plants and most algae d ...

) levels, which are normally measured 2 hours after and before eating in a postprandial glucose test. This is because blood glucose levels usually rise after a meal. The

American Diabetes Association The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is a United States-based nonprofit that seeks to educate the public about diabetes and to help those affected by it through funding research to manage, cure and prevent diabetes, including type 1 diabetes ...

recommends a postprandial glucose level under 180 mg/dl and a preprandial plasma glucose between 70 and 130 mg/dl. Other uses of ''postprandial'' include: * Postprandial dip is a mild decrease in blood sugar after eating a big meal. * Postprandial

hyperglycemia Hyperglycemia is a condition where unusually high amount of glucose is present in blood. It is defined as blood glucose level exceeding 6.9 mmol/L (125 mg/dL) after fasting for 8 hours or 10 mmol/L (180 mg/dL) 2 hours after eating. Blood gluc ...

(PPHG) is high blood sugar following a meal. It can be evaluated in a postprandial glucose test. * Postprandial

hypotension Hypotension, also known as low blood pressure, is a cardiovascular condition characterized by abnormally reduced blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps out blood and is ...

is a drastic decline in blood pressure which happens after eating a meal.Merck Manual Home Health Handbook
"Postprandial Hypotension."
Last revised February 2003. Last accessed July 13, 2007. * Postprandial regurgitation is a unique symptom of

rumination syndrome Rumination syndrome, or merycism, is a chronic motility disorder characterized by effortless regurgitation of most meals following consumption, due to the involuntary contraction of the muscles around the abdomen. There is no retching, nausea, ...

. * Postprandial thermogenesis is heat production due to metabolism after a meal, temporarily increasing the metabolic rate. * Postprandial abdominal distension usually refers to bloating of the abdomen following a meal, especially a large one. It is generally harmless, but tends to be uncomfortable. Instances of its sudden onset or prolonged duration can, however, be symptoms of certain severe adverse gastro-intestinal conditions such as irritable bowel disease.
Postprandial abdominal distension is also a documented side effect of some medications.

Processes

In the postprandium, there is

digestion Digestion is the breakdown of large insoluble food compounds into small water-soluble components so that they can be absorbed into the blood plasma. In certain organisms, these smaller substances are absorbed through the small intestine into th ...

of food in the

gastrointestinal tract The gastrointestinal tract (GI tract, digestive tract, alimentary canal) is the tract or passageway of the Digestion, digestive system that leads from the mouth to the anus. The tract is the largest of the body's systems, after the cardiovascula ...

, followed by uptake and various

metabolic Metabolism (, from ''metabolē'', "change") is the set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms. The three main functions of metabolism are: the conversion of the energy in food to energy available to run cellular processes; the ...

processes, mainly

anabolic Anabolism () is the set of metabolic pathways that construct macromolecules like DNA or RNA from smaller units. These reactions require energy, known also as an endergonic process. Anabolism is the building-up aspect of metabolism, whereas catab ...

ones (building organic molecules from smaller units). The postprandium is characterized by an increased activity of the

parasympathetic nervous system The parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) is one of the three divisions of the autonomic nervous system, the others being the sympathetic nervous system and the enteric nervous system. The autonomic nervous system is responsible for regulat ...

, putting the body in a state of "rest and digest".

References

{{reflist Medical terminology