The Effect of Continuous Enteral Nutrition on Gastric Acidity in Humans

Abstract

Abstract: This study examines 24‐hour gastric pH response under four nutritional conditions in 11 normal subjects. The conditions include: fasting, normal meals, and infusion of an equicaloric nutritional solution either parenterally or intraduodenally (i.d.). The volunteers underwent four 24‐hour intragastric pH measurement studies. Serum glucose, calcium, immunoreactive insulin, and gastrin levels were determined at various intervals. Median 24‐hour gastric pH values were significantly lower during i.d. infusion than during parenteral feeding but were not significantly different from fasting or normal diet values. Median 24‐hour serum glucose levels during i.d. infusion were higher than during fasting and lower than during parenteral nutrition. Median 24‐hour serum insulin levels during i.d. infusion were higher than during fasting but similar to levels during parenteral nutrition. Neither median 24‐hour gastrin levels nor calcium levels were altered by the various regimens. The authors conclude that continuous i.d. nutrient infusion produces gastric pH values similar to fasting or normal meal levels, whereas parenteral nutrition increases gastric pH. This suggests that under physiologic conditions, gastric acidity is under feedback control