[Gastric secretion and acidity in clinically healthy persons in old age]

Gastric secretion and acidity under maximum pentagastrin stimulation were studied in 36 phenotypical healthy subjects of advanced age and compared with the same parameters in 36 young healthy subjects. Both the volume of gastric secretion and the acidity were significantly lower in the clinically healthy subjects of advanced age and normal weight than in the young adults remaining, however, within the normalcy range. The data suggest that the organism of elderly persons seems to be adequately supplied with gastric secretion and acid content.