Abstract
Vatn, M. H., Berstad, A. & Schrumpf, E. The effect of calcium and pentagastrin on the gastric secretion of acid, pepsin, and intrinsic factor (IF) in man. Scand. J. Gastroent. 1974, 9, 697–701.
Gastric secretion of acid, pepsin, and IF, and serum gastrin concentrations were measured during intravenous infusions of calcium gluconate in 5 healthy students. No significant changes in serum gastrin concentrations were measured, in spite of an increase in mean serum calcium concentration from 9.7 to 11.8 mg/100 ml. The total outputs of pepsin and IF increased significantly, whereas the increase of acid was not significant. In each of the same 5 subjects 0.1, 1.0, and 3.0 µg/kg/h of pentagastrin were infused either alone or in combination with calcium. Calcium infusion significantly decreased acid secretion stimulated by the highest dose of pentagastrin. The IF output stimulated by the lowest dose of pentagastrin was significantly increased by calcium. Our results suggest that the effect of calcium is not mediated through the release of gastrin. The increase of pepsin and IF is in agreement with the concept of a stimulatory effect of calcium on macromolecular secretion.