Fill up Your Tank With Gastrin, But Not Too Much

Gastrin is, you guessed it, a gastric hormone that is important to digestion but also to the protection of the stomach lining. It helps food move along the digestive tract and even stimulates the production of hydrochloric acid which you need to digest protein, kill off invading microbes, and process B12 and minerals. 

Although gastrin levels can increase up to five times normal following a high-protein meal, persistently high levels should be investigated. Certain tumors can produce gastrin causing high levels in the blood. Elevated levels can also persist with chronic renal failure, gastric obstruction, H. pylori infection, and use of antacid medications. Very high levels can be seen with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, a condition caused by a gastrin-secreting pancreatic tumor that leads to severe recurrent peptic ulcers. Very high levels are also associated with achlorhydria, the absence of hydrochloric acid.

Some medications can decrease gastrin levels including tricyclic antidepressants and anticholinergics. Low levels may also be seen following gastric bypass.

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