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Nutrients and cyclical interdigestive pancreatic enzyme secretion in humans
G Holtmann1, D G Kelly, E P DiMagno
1Division of Gastroenterology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Gut
|June 1, 1996
Summary
Nutrients in the duodenum do not stop pancreatic enzyme secretion cycles but modulate them by raising the lowest secretion levels. Moderate caloric infusions may help patients with pancreatitis.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Digestive Physiology
Background:
- Pancreatic enzyme secretion exhibits cyclical interdigestive patterns.
- It was hypothesized that nutrients convert cyclical secretion to a non-cyclical pattern.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test if nutrients interrupt pancreatic enzyme secretion cycles.
- To determine the relationship between nutrients, calories, and osmotic load on pancreatic secretion rate.
Main Methods:
- Healthy individuals received duodenal infusions of varying nutrient compositions, caloric loads (40-160 kcal/h), and osmolalities.
- Pancreatic enzyme outputs were measured every 15 minutes over 300 minutes.
Main Results:
- Nutrient composition did not alter individual enzyme secretion or the number of secretion peaks.
- Increasing caloric load correlated with the nadir of enzyme output cycles, not the peak.
- Increased osmolality reduced overall enzyme output but did not affect cycling.
Conclusions:
- Duodenal nutrients modulate, rather than abolish, pancreatic enzyme secretion cycles by affecting the nadir.
- Submaximal caloric infusions (40 and 90 kcal/h) may be beneficial for pancreatitis patients.
- Adding sodium chloride could potentially enhance the effects of these infusions.
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