title: Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in presumed healthy elderly subjects.
abstract: A pilot study on exocrine pancreatic function, using the 2-day para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) test, was performed on 21 healthy elderly and 26 healthy young subjects. A PABA excretion index (PEI) less than 55%, indicating moderate to severe exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), was found in 19% of the elderly group (95% confidence limits 5-42%). While the mean value of the PEI was significantly lower in the elderly compared with the young group (Mann-Whitney Z = 2.8, p less than 0.01), there was no significant difference when the elderly subgroup with PEI less than 55% was excluded. There was no evidence of a generalized moderate to severe decline in pancreatic exocrine function with increasing age; a mild to moderate decline cannot be excluded.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Care for the Elderly, Ulster Hospital, Dundonald, Belfast.
authors.forename: F I
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: al-Modaris
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Power
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: McConnell
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Buchanan
mesh_terms: D010129:4-Aminobenzoic Acid; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D010188:Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008049:Lipase / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000503:physiopathology; D010186:Pancreatic Function Tests; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012016:Reference Values; D014357:Trypsin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D008049:Lipase; D014357:Trypsin; D010129:4-Aminobenzoic Acid