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  IN THIS Article
 ::  Introduction
 ::  Material and methods
 ::  Results
 ::  Discussion
 ::  Acknowledgement
 ::  References

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Year : 1981  |  Volume : 27  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 90-8

Serum calcium and gastric acid-pepsin secretion.







How to cite this article:
Pimparkar B D, Gandhi U M, Bodas P V. Serum calcium and gastric acid-pepsin secretion. J Postgrad Med 1981;27:90


How to cite this URL:
Pimparkar B D, Gandhi U M, Bodas P V. Serum calcium and gastric acid-pepsin secretion. J Postgrad Med [serial online] 1981 [cited 2023 Nov 30];27:90. Available from: https://www.jpgmonline.com/text.asp?1981/27/2/90/5656




  ::   Introduction Top

A possible relation between serum calcium and gastric secretion was suggested nearly 50 years ago in experiments in innervated (Pavlov) gastric pouches. Since then several others have studied the problem from time to time. However, there are scarce reports of correlation between serum calcium and human gastric acid-pepsin output. Hence, it was decided to study serum calcium levels in normal control and duodenal ulcer subjects and to correlate them with pentagastrin stimulated gastric acid-pepsin secretion.

  ::   Material and methods Top

Ninety five radiologically proved duodenal ulcer and eighteen normal control subjects, (all males), were studied. The normal controls were included in the study only if they fulfilled the following criteria: a negative clinical evaluation, normal upper gastrointestinal X-rays, negative stool for any parasitic infestation, negative history of diarrhoea, normal hemoglobin and normal serum protein levels.
Each subject, besides good clinical evaluation, had routine laboratory investigations such as hemogram, stool, urine and X-ray chest. The clinical symptomatology was recorded on a special proforma. Serum calcium was estimated by the method of Clark and Collip,[12] serum phosphorus by the method of Fiske and Subbarao,[23] serum alkaline phosphatase by the method of King and Armstrong,[34] serum total proteins and albumin by the method of Reinhold.[48]
Gastric acid-pepsin output was measured both at basal state and after stimulation with pentagastrin, using a dose of 6 ug/kg which has been shown in our previous studies to be the optimum dose.[45] The technique of pentagastrin test has also been discribed previonsly,[42],[43],[44] and was the same as used by Makhlouf et al.[35], [36] Acid was estimated titrimetrically using phenolphthalein as an indicator for total acid while pepsin was estimated by the method of Anson and Mirsky,[2] as modified by Hunt.[30] The effect of pentagastrin on serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase and blood sugar was studied simultaneously during these tests and is published separately.[46]
For the sake of brevity only total acid values are shown. Post-stimulatory one hourly secretion of acid and pepsin were designated as maximal acid and pepsin output, (MAO and MPO). Peak acid output, (PAO), and peak pepsin output, (PPO), were also calculated. The values for all are expressed as mean ± S.E. and further analysed statistically using correlation coefficient, `r'.

  ::   Results Top

[Table 1] shows the mean + S.E. values for age, weight, hemoglobin, total serum proteins, serum albumin, serum calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase. It also shows similar, (Mean ± S.E.), values for basal, maximal, and peak acid-pepsin outputs, in both normal control and duodenal ulcer subjects. The mean + S.E. values for age, weight, total serum proteins, serum albumin, serum calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase did not show any significant difference between the two groups. As expected, basal, maximal and peak acid-pepsin outputs were significantly higher in duodenal ulcers than those in normal control subjects, `p' being significant. [Table 2] shows the correlation coefficients, `r', between basal, peak and maximal acid outputs and various other factors. There was no correlation between the basal, peak and maximally stimulated acid outputs and hemoglobin, total serum proteins, serum albumin, serum calcium, and alkaline phosphatase in both normal control and duodenal ulcer subjects.
[Table 3] shows the correlation coefficient (`r') between the basal, peak and maximal pepsin secretion and various other factors. Again, there was no correlation between the basal, peak and maximally stimulated pepsin and hemoglobin, serum total proteins, serum albumin, serum calcium, and alkaline phosphatase in both the groups. As reported previously,[43],[44],[45] there was a highly significant correlation between BAO and BPO and MAO and MPO in both the groups suggesting that whenever acid output was high or low, the pepsin output was also similarly high or low, respectively in both the groups.


  ::   Discussion Top

The incidence of duodenal ulcer in hyperparathyroidism is high.[1] [9] [20] [28] [32] [41] [49] [50] [53] [59] The frequent coincidence of parathyroid adenomas in the Zollinger Eilison Syndrome,[7] [18] [19] [20] [29] [39] [54] [57] [60] [61] [62] [63] and in the multiple endocrine adenoma-peptic ulcer syndrome,[4], [33] suggested a possible interrelation of serum calcium values and gastric secretion that may be of clinical importance. Further clinical interest arises from the treatment of peptic ulcer by means of frequently administered calcium salts which may occasionally result in hypercalcemia and milk-alkali syndrome [38].[59] Studies in vitro have demonstrated that there is a narrow critical range of calcium concentration required for secretory activity in isolated sheets of frog gastric mucosa.[25], [31] Achlorhydria has been reported in hypocalcemic subjects[3], [15] Donegan and Spiro[15] reported the absence of free gastric acid in basal secretion in a hypoparathyroid patient with serum calcium levels below 7.0 mg %. Further, they were able to restrore free gastric acid by infusion of calcium in their hypoparathyroid patient. The critical level of plasma calcium at which gastric acid secretion was restored was about 7.0 to 7.5 mg%. Infusion of calcium has been reported to increase acid-pepsin output in normal controls and in patients with duodenal ulcer, hyperparathyroidism, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and familial multiple endocrine tumor peptic ulcer sydrome.[5],[6],[7],[13],[40],[47],[52],[54],[58] Whereas most studies in man show that parenteral calcium leads to an increase in gastric secretion, parenteral calcium has been found to inhibit gastric secretion in animals.[22] [24] [47] [58] This may be due either to species variation or due to variation in method.[52] The effects of acute and chronic hypercalcemia may differ since, Smallwood,[52] in infusion experiments, clearly showed that the secretory changes did not parallel the serum calcium levels. The increased gastric secretion is not directly related to the actual calcium levels but rather to the sharp rise in serum calcium following an acute calcium load. The rise in gastric secretion of acid-pepsin after calcium infusion is discernible in one hour, reaches a peak in 3 to 4 hours and is more than 2 to 4 times greater than basal acid-pepsin output and about 30% greater than the peak acid output after histalog or histamine stimulation.[13], [40], [52]
Several mechanisms for the action of calcium are suggested. Calcium may have a direct effect on the parietal cell, since it is blocked by simultaneous magnesium infusion.[6],[21] There is evidence to suggest that calcium may facilitate release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular end plate[14], [56] in preganglionic parasympathetic fibres;[27] and in postganglionic parasympathetic fibres.[57] Further, in the case of motor end plate, the apparent facilitation of acetyl choline release is blocked by magnesium,[21] by anticholinergics or by ganglion blocking agents[6], [47], [56] suggesting vagal synergism. Calcium has been reported to cause the release or elaboration of gastrin.[47], [54] Trudeau and McGuigan,[54] demonstrated excellent correlation between the plasma calcium and serum gastrin levels and marked increase in serum gastrin concentration by calcium infusion but not by infusion of parathormone in a patient with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Similar results were reported in normal control and duodenal ulcer patients by Reeder et a1[47] who also showed that the injection of atropine consistently diminished the calcium induced gastric acid secretion but did not decrease the elevated levels of serum gastrin. Wilson et a1[60] reported hypercalcemia and hypergastrinemia in 20 patients with hyperparathyroidism, (HPT). Removal of hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands resulted, in parathormone and calcium concentrations returning to normal but the fasting gastrin, integrated gastrin response to a meal, and stimulated acid output were not significantly changed indicating that an elevated parathormone or calcium concentration is not the cause of hypergastrinemia in HPT but rather these two endocrine disturbances may coexist. Basso and Passaro[7] found that the acid response to calcium in the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome was prompt, large and sustained while it was gradual in onset and less in amount in duodenal ulcer patients indicating that calcium stimulates the release of gastrin from non-beta cells and that it potentiates the response of gastrin. However, this potentiation is controversial since Christiansen and Handel[11] could not confirm these findings. Similar results of no potentiation after calcium and histamine stimulation were obtained by Dalal et al.[13] Thus, vagal synergism with the increased levels of gastrin is required for the stimulation of acid secretion by calcium.
The mean values for serum calcium and phosporus in this group of 95 subjects with duodenal ulcer were within normal limits. This finding indicates that hyperparathyroidism is not a common cause of ulcer, at least in Bombay from where these patients came.
Although majority of ulcer subjects secreted significantly increased amounts of acid and pepsin as compared to those in normal controls [Table 1], this increased secretion was not due to increased serum calcium levels as these were not significantly different from those in normal controls. Hypersecretion in ulcer subjects is thought to be due to either increased parietal cell mass[10], [37] or due to vagotonia;[16], [17], [51] it also could be due to hypergastrinemia. It was not possible for us to estimate serum gastrin when we undertook these studies. Just as Christiansen and Handelll and Dalal et al[13] found no potentiation by calcium of pentagastrin or histamine stimulated secretion, we have reported no potentation of calcium by pentagestrin.[46] Thus, our results indicate that hyperparathyroidism and hypercalcemia are not a common cause of hypersecretion in the usual duodenal ulcer subjects.

  ::   Acknowledgement Top

This project was supported by a Research Grant from the Indian Council of Medical Research. The authors are grateful to Dr. J. S. Mishra, the Superintendent, and the Medical Director, Medical Research Center of the Bombay Hospital Trust for giving all the facilities to carry out the Research. Thanks are also due to Mrs. K. D. Lotlikar for statistical analysis.

  ::   References Top

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2.Anson, A. L. and Mirsky A. E.: The estimation of pepsin with hemoglobin. J. Gen. Physiol., 16: 59-63, 1932.  Back to cited text no. 2    
3.Babbott, F. L., Jr., Johnston J. A. and Haskins, C. H.: Gastric acidity in infantile tentany. Amer. J. Dis. Child., 26: 486-501, 1923. Quoted by Reeder et al, 1970.  Back to cited text no. 3    
4.Ballard, H. S., Frame, B. and Hartstock, R. J.: Familial multiple endocrine adenoma-peptic ulcer complex. Medicine, (Baltimore), 43: 481-516, 1964.  Back to cited text no. 4    
5.Barreras, R. F. and Donaldson, R. M. Jr.Gastric secretion during hypercaleemia in man. Gastroenterology, 50: 881, 1966.  Back to cited text no. 5    
6.Barreras, R. F. and Donaldson, R. M. Jr.: Effects of induced hypercalcemia on human gastric secretion. Gastroenterology, 52: 670-675, 1967.  Back to cited text no. 6    
7.Basso, N. and Passaro, E., Jr.: Calcium stimulated gastric secretion in the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Arch. Surg., 101: 399-402, 1970.  Back to cited text no. 7    
8.Bhandarkar, M. S.: "Some Aspects of Calcium and Phosphorus Metabolism it Health and Disease": Thesis submitted for M.Sc. (Biochemistry), University of Bombay, 1969.  Back to cited text no. 8    
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11.Christiansen, J. and Handel, L.: Interaction of calcium and pentagastrin on gastric acid secretion in man. Gut, 13: 643645, 1972.  Back to cited text no. 11    
12.Clark, E. P. and Collip, J. B.: A study of the Tisdall method for the determination of blood serum calcium with a suggested modification. J. Biol. Chem., 63: 461-464, 1925.  Back to cited text no. 12    
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21.Fatt, P.: Skeletal neuromuscular transmission. In, "Handbook of Physiology: Neurophysiology." Vol. I. American Physiological Society. Washington D. C. 1959; pp. 199-213.  Back to cited text no. 21    
22.Fikry, M. E. and Dorry, K.: The inhibiting action of parenteral calcium on gastric acid secretion in man. Acta Gastroenterol., Belg., 27: 172-178, 1964. Quoted by Smallwood, 1967.  Back to cited text no. 22    
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25.Gray, J. S. and Adkinson, J. L.: The effect of inorganic ions on gastric secretion in vitro. Amer. J. Physiol., 134: 27-31, 1941.  Back to cited text no. 25    
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27.Harvey, A. M. and Macintosh, C. F.: Calcium and synaptic transmission in a sympathetic ganglion. J. Physiol. (London), 97: 408-416, 1940.  Back to cited text no. 27    
28.Hellstrom, J.: Hyperparathyroidism and gastroduodenal ulcer. Acta Chir., Stand., 116: 207-221, 1959.  Back to cited text no. 28    
29.Huizenga, K. A., Goodrick, W. I. M. and Summerskill, W. H. J.: Peptic ulcer with islet cell tumor. Amer. J. Med., 37: 564-577, 1964.  Back to cited text no. 29    
30.Hunt, J. M.: A method of estimating peptic activity in gastric contents Biochem. J., 42: 104-109, 1948.  Back to cited text no. 30    
31.Kaplan, E. L. and Peskin, G. W.: In-vitro relationship of calcium ion and calcium influencing polypeptides to gastric acidity. Surg. Forum, 20: 350-351, 1969. Quoted by Reeder et al, 1970.  Back to cited text no. 31    
32.Kelly, T. R.: Relationship of hyperparathyroidism to peptic ulcer. A.M.A. Arch. Surg., 101: 193-199, 1970.  Back to cited text no. 32    
33.Kerr, G. D. and Smith, R.: Hypercalcemia and gastric hyper-secretion in the familial endocrine adenoma syndrome. Lancet, 1: 1074-1077, 1967.  Back to cited text no. 33    
34.King, E. J. and Armstrong, A. R.: Convenient method for determining serum and bile phosphorus activiy. Canad. Med. Assoc. J., 31: 376-381, 1934: Quoted from Varley, 1953.  Back to cited text no. 34    
35.Makhlouf, G. N., MacManus, J. P. A. and Card, W. I . : The action of gastrin II on gastric acid secretion in man. Lancet, 2: 485-4941, 1964.  Back to cited text no. 35    
36.Makhlouf, G. M. and MacManus, J. P. A.: Action of pentapeptide (I.C.I. 50123) on gastric secretion in man. Gastroenterology, 51: 455-465, 1966.  Back to cited text no. 36    
37.Marks, J. N.: Augmented histamine test. (Editorial). Gastroenterology, 41: 599-603, 1961.  Back to cited text no. 37    
38.McMillan, D. and Freeman, JR.: The milk-alkali syndrome: A study of the acute disorder with comments on the development of the chronic condition. Medicine, 44: 485-501, 1957.  Back to cited text no. 38    
39.Mieher, W. C. Jr., Thibaudeau, Y. and Frame, B.: Primary hyperparathyroidism-A diagnostic challenge. Arch. Intern. Med., 107: 361-371, 1961.  Back to cited text no. 39    
40.Murphy, D. L., Godstein, H., Boyle, J. D. and Ward, S.: Hypercalcemia and gastric secretion in man. J. Applied Physiol. 21: 1607-1610, 1966.  Back to cited text no. 40    
41.Ostrow, J. D., Blanshard, G. and Gray, S. J.: Peptic ulcer in primary hyperparathyroidism. Amer. J. Med., 29: 769-779, 1960.  Back to cited text no. 41    
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43.Pimparkar, B. D., Bhivankar, N. T., Kulkarni, B. S. and Mehta, J. M.: Effect of atropine on gastric secretion of acid, pepsin, and electrolytes elicited by maximal stimulation with histamine and pentagastrin in normal control and duodenal ulcer subjects from Bombay. Ind. J. Med. Res., 62: 1736-1750, 1974.  Back to cited text no. 43    
44.Pimparkar, B. D., Bhivankar, N. T., Kulkarni, B. S. and Mehta J. M.: Comparative study of augmented histamine test and pentagastrin in normal control and duodenal ulcer subjects. Ind. J. Med. Res., 63: 979-992, 1975.  Back to cited text no. 44    
45.Pimparkar, B. D., Dubhashi, S. M. and Bodas, P. V.: Optimum dose of pentagastrin for maximal gastrin acid-pepsin secretion in Indians. Ind. J. Med. Res., 64: 93-101, 1976.  Back to cited text no. 45    
46.Pimparkar, B. D., Dubashi, S. M. and Bodas, P. V.: Effect of pentagastrin on serum calcium, phosphorus, amylase and blood sugar. J. Postgrad, Med., 22: 5965, 1976.  Back to cited text no. 46    
47.Reeder, D. D., Jackson, B. M., Ban, J., Clendinnen, B. G., Davidson, W. D. and Thompson, J. C.: Influence of hypercalcemia on gastric secretion and serum gastrin concentrations in man. Ann. Surg., 172: 540-546, 1970.  Back to cited text no. 47    
48.Reinhold, J. G.: "Standard Methods in Clinical Chemistry." Editor: M. Reiner, Vol. I, Academic Press, New York, 1953, p. 88.  Back to cited text no. 48    
49.Rogers, H. M., Keating, F. R. Jr., Morlock, G. G. and Barker, N. W.: Primary hypertrophy and hyperplasia of parathyroid glands associated with duodenal ulcer. Arch. Intern.. Med., 79: 307-321, 1947.   Back to cited text no. 49    
50.Roseman, D. N. and Sleisenger, M. H.: Systemic disease and the gut. In, "Gastrointestinal Disease". Edited by Sleisenger and Fordtran, W. B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, Pa. U.S.A. 1973. p. 387388.  Back to cited text no. 50    
51.Shay, H.: Gastric acidity and the vagus. Med. Clin. North Amer., 41: 1481-1488, 1x52.  Back to cited text no. 51    
52.Smallwood, R. A.: Effect of intravenous calcium administration on gastric secretion of acid and pepsin in man. Gut, 8: 592'-597, 1967.  Back to cited text no. 52    
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54.Trudeau, W. L. and McGuigan, J. E.: Effect of calcium on serum gastrin levels in the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. New Engl. J. Med., 281: 862-866, 1969.  Back to cited text no. 54    
55.Varley, H.: "Practical Clinical Biochemistry". 2nd Ed. Interscience Publishers Inc. New York, 1958, pp. 364-365.  Back to cited text no. 55    
56.Vincenzi, F. F. and West, T. C.: Modification by calcium of the release of autonomic mediators in the isolated sinoatrial node. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Therap., 150: 349-360, 1965.  Back to cited text no. 56    
57.Walsh, J. H. and Sleisenger M. H.: Syndromes caused by functioning islet cell tumors. In, "Gastrointestinal Diseases". Edited by Sleisenger and Fordtran, W. B. Saunders Co. Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.A. 1973, pp. 365-377.  Back to cited text no. 57    
58.Ward, J. T., Adesola, A. O. and Welbourn, R. B.: The parathyroids, calcium and gastric secretion in man and the dog. Gut, 5: 173-183, 1964.  Back to cited text no. 58    
59.Wenger, J., Kirsner, J. B. and Palmer, W. L.: The milk-alkali syndrome, hypercalcemia, alkalosis and azotemia following calcium carbonate and milk therapy of peptic ulcer. Gastroenterology, 33: 745-769, 1957.  Back to cited text no. 59    
60.Wilson, S. D., Singh, R. B., Kalkhoff, R. K. and Go, V. L. W.: Does hyperparathyroidism cause hypergastrinemia?: Surgery, 80: 231-237, 1976.  Back to cited text no. 60    
61.Winship, D. H. and Ellison, E. H.: Variability of gastric secretion in patients with and without the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Lancet, 1: 1128-1130, 1967.   Back to cited text no. 61    
62.Zollinger, R. N. and Ellison, E. H.: Primary peptic ulceration of the jejunum associated with islet cell tumors of the pancreas. Ann. Surg., 142: 709-728, 1953.   Back to cited text no. 62    
63.Zollinger, R. N. and Grant, G. N.: Ulcerogenic tumors of pancreas. J. Amer. Med. Assoc., 190: 181-184, 1964.  Back to cited text no. 63    

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