Effect of Calcium on Gastric Secretion in Man

Abstract

The effect of calcium on gastric secretion was studied in 18 peptic ulcer patients and acase of suspected Z-E syndrome obtained from our inpatient service.
After 2hour infusion of normal saline solution, Calcium Gluconate containing 15mg/kgof calcium ion was administered intravenously with the saline at the rate of 5.3ml/min. overthe following 4hours. The blood and gastric juice samples were collected every hour during6hours. In each collected sample of gastric juice acidity and peptic activity were measuered, and in each blood sample serum gastrin level and immunoreactive insulin were assayed bythe radioimmunological method.
The value of serum calcium level was 4.48±0.06mEq/l before calcium infusion, andit rised to 5.73±0.37EEq/l at the 4th hour after calcium infusion was begun. The pepticactivity, acidity, secretory volume and serum gastrin level increased as the serum calcium levelrised, however serum insulin did not increased.
In peptic ulcer patients the average of basal acid output was 2.75±0.75mEq/h. andcalcium stimulated acid output was 4.80±0.90mEq/h. The latter was equal to 2.22±0.31times of the former. One hour calcium stimulated acid output was 37±8% of gastrinstimulated MAO in peptic ulcer patients, and it was 78% in Z-E syndrome case.
The acid secretory ability of calcium was inferior to gastrin, to the contrary its pepticsecretory ability was superior to gastrin.
The authors discussed the mechanism of gastric secretory ability of calcium and speculatedthat calcium might stimulate gastric secretion through gastrin release.