Human gut hormone profiles in patients with short bowel syndrome

We have studied gut hormone profiles in a small number of patients on treatment with home parenteral nutrition following near-total enterectomy who had no evidence of inflammatory bowel disease and who were otherwise healthy. These and age- and sex-matched controls had gut hormone profiles measured after an overnight fast and a standard test meal. Circulating pancreatic glucagon concentrations and profiles were the same in both groups as were the neurotensin and VIP. Peptide YY (PYY) concentrations and profiles were markedly raised in the short bowel group. It is suggested that the normal glucagon responses reflect the integrity of the remaining duodenum and pancreas. Circulating neurotensin and VIP originate largely from outside the bowel and so the removal of the gut source does not significantly affect their profiles. Enteroglucagon and PYY are secreted from terminal ileum and colon in response to unabsorbed food residues. The elevated circulating levels and profiles are consistent with those observed by others in patients with jejunoileal bypass or major resections in whom unabsorbed nutrients reach the colon.