Research Communications Release of secretin and somatostatin after test meals with different fatty-acid composition in cholecystectomized humans

The release of secretin and somatostatin by liquid meals with different fatty-acid composition was investigated in humans. For this purpose, plasma secretin and somatostatin concentrations were measured in two groups of cholecystectomized subjects, before and after the ingestion of a meal that contained sunflower oil (Group A) or equicaloric amounts of sunflower oil, olive oil and cream (Group B) as the fat source. The changes in pH values, bicarbonate concentration, and amylase activity in duodenal contents were also studied. Significant release of secretin and somatostatin by food was observed only in Group B. In addition, the plasma levels of both hormones were significantly higher in Group B than in Group A during the postprandial period. Duodenal bicarbonate concentration and amylase activity were consistently lower in the Group B subjects. Our findings indicate that the ingestion of liquid mixed meals that only differ in their fatty-acid profile evokes different secretin and somatostatin release patterns, which, in turn, affects the pancreatic response to food. The existence of an autoregulatory system including secretin and somatostatin is also supported. (J. Nutr. Biochem. 9:186–192, 1998) © Elsevier Science Inc. 1998