Intestinal Absorption of Vitamin B₁₂ in Patients with Chronic Pancreatic Insufficiency and the Effect of Human duodenal Juice on the Intestinal Uptake of Vitamin B₁₂

Abstract

von der Lippe, G., Andersen, K.-J. & Schjönsby, H. Intestinal absorption of vitamin B12 in patients with chronic pancreatic insufficiency and the effect of human duodenal juice on the intestinal uptake of vitamin B12. Scand. J. Gastroent. 1976, 11, 689-695

The mean absorption of vitamin B12 (Schilling test) was 13.1 ± 1.0 (% ±S.E.M.) in 21 patients with chronic pancreatic insufficiency and 17.6 ±1.4 in 13 control patients (p<0.01). There was no correlation between pancreatic bicarbonate production after secretin stimulation and vitamin B12 absorption in the patient group (r = 0.117). Human duodenal juice reduced the uptake of ^S7CoBi2-rat intrinsic factor (IF) by perfused rat small intestinal segments in vivo (p<0.01) as well as the uptake of ⁵⁷CoB₁₂-human IF by purified guinea-pig intestinal brush borders in vitro (p<0.01). The results confirm reduced absorption of vitamin B₁₂ in chronic pancreatic insufficiency, but the mechanism remains uncertain.

Key-words::

• Intestinal absorption
• intestinal secretion
• intrinsic factor
• mucous membrane
• pancreatic disease
• vitamin B₁₂
• vitamin B₁₂ deficiency