Variation of total pepsin activity in sera with age and under different stimulations of gastric acid secretion.
The total pepsin activity in sera was measured in 660 outpatients endoscopically proven to be free of gastroduodenal lesions. A small but significant increase of total pepsin activity with age in females older than 50 years was observed. Total serum pepsin activity increased after stimulation of gastric acid secretion. This increase was small after a meal and vagal stimulation by sham feeding, but higher after maximal stimulation with Pentagastrin. Its amount, which is in general rather small and probably not relevant for clinical evaluation of gastric acid secretion, depends on the proportion of cases with high gastric secretory capacity. This might clarify the discrepancy in the results obtained by previous authors.
Massarrat
S
S
Department of Gastroenterology and Metabolic Disease, Philipps-University, Marburg, FRG.
Schumann
K M
KM
Schwarz
E R
ER
D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010434:Pepsin A / Q000097:blood*
D010434:Pepsin A