DISPROPORTIONATE ILEAL DIGESTION ON CANINE FOOD-CONSUMPTION - A POSSIBLE MODEL FOR SATIETY IN PANCREATIC INSUFFICIENCY

In animals, ileal sensors of nutrients signal satiety more potently th an similar sensors in jejunum. We postulated that inadequate food inta ke and weight loss in human pancreatic insufficiency might arise by th e displacement of digestion to ileum, where excessive release of diges tive products would enhance satiety. To test this idea, we studied dog s prepared with pancreatic fistulas, which allowed reversible switchin g of pancreatic juice from entry at duodenum to entry at mid-small int estine. Dogs were studied in a crossover design over successive eight- day periods. Food consumption and body weight were measured while the dogs had continuous access to food. Diversion of pancreatic juice to m id-intestine significantly (P < 0.01) depressed food intake by an aver age of 28%. Diversion also significantly (P < 0.01) reduced body weigh t. The findings support the idea that insufficient food intake in huma n pancreatic insufficiency may result from stimulation of ileal satiet y mechanisms.