Gut hormones in inflammatory bowel disease

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology Vol. 18; no. 7; p. 845
• Main Authors: Besterman, H S, Mallinson, C N, Modigliani, R, Christofides, N D, Pera, A, Ponti, V, Sarson, D L, Bloom, S R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.10.1983
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Colitis, Ulcerative - blood; Crohn Disease - blood; Female; Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide - blood; Gastrins - blood; Gastrointestinal Hormones - blood; Glucagon-Like Peptides - blood; Humans; Insulin - blood; Male; Middle Aged; Motilin - blood; Neurotensin - blood; Pancreatic Polypeptide - blood; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide - blood
• ISSN: 0036-5521
• DOI: 10.3109/00365528309182104

We have studied fasting levels and the response to a standard test breakfast of blood glucose and several gut hormones in 24 patients with ulcerative colitis, in 14 patients with Crohn's disease, and in 14 healthy control subjects. Patients with ulcerative colitis had significantly elevated fasting human pancreatic polypeptide (HPP) concentrations, and both basal and postprandial levels of gastrin, gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), and motilin were greater than normal. In contrast, patients with Crohn's disease had normal gastrin levels but had increased fasting and postprandial levels of GIP and motilin and, in addition, of enteroglucagon, compared with controls. These patients also had greater than normal HPP concentrations 30 min after the breakfast. Normal levels of insulin, pancreatic glucagon, neurotensin, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide were found in both groups of patients. Much remains to be known about the pathophysiology of these two debilitating diseases, and the abnormal release of gut hormones may be of importance.