Acid-Independent Release of Secretin and Cholecystokinin by Intraduodenal Infusion of Fat in Humans

In order to clarify a possible role of fat content in the release of secretin and cholecystokinin by liquid nutritional supplements in humans, duodenal pH and plasma concentrations of secretin and cholecystokinin were studied during the intraduodenal infusion of Ensure, Vivonex, 10% Intralipid, and sodium oleate. Significant release of secretin was observed with Intralipid and sodium oleate, while significant release of cholecystokinin was observed with all four testing solutions. Duodenal pH was rarely below 4.5 during the infusion of Ensure, Intralipid, and sodium oleate. Duodenal pH was high, greater than 6.0, when plasma secretin and cholecystokinin levels were elevated during the administration of Ensure, Intralipid, and sodium oleate. We conclude that both secretin and cholecystokinin are released in response to fat solutions in the duodenum and that low duodenal pH was not responsible for either secretin or cholecystokinin release during intraduodenal infusions of Ensure, Intralipid, or sodium oleate.