Computational modelling of gastric digestion: current challenges and future directions

• Gastric digestion.
• Computational modelling.
• Dynamics of gastric flows with different rheological properties.
• Gastric emptying pathways.
• Particulate digesta systems.

Knowledge of the physicochemical conditions to which foods are exposed during gastric digestion is important to facilitate the design and development of novel foods with enhanced functionalities. Although in vivo and in vitro trial have provided an increased understanding of the functional activity of the gastric wall and the outcomes of digestion, little is still known about the processes involved and their relationship with the material properties of the ingested food. The purpose of this article is to provide a brief overview of how computational modelling tools have advanced our understanding of the mechanical functions of the human stomach during digestion, and how future efforts in this area could help the design of novel structures for their specific performance during digestion.