PANCREATIC-POLYPEPTIDE AND EXOCRINE PANCREATIC FUNCTION IN THE ELDERLY

The relationship between exocrine pancreatic function and plasma pancr eatic Polypeptide levels was studied in 14 normal elderly subjects and in ten elderly patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency determ ined by the para - aminobenzoic acid test. There was a decrease in the total pancreatic polypeptide response after a standard mixed meal in the group with pancreatic insufficiency (t = 2.753, p = 0.01). An incr ease above basal of less than 100% in plasma pancreatic polypeptide le vels 30 min after a standard mixed meal is strongly associated with ex ocrine pancreatic insufficiency (Fisher's exact test, p = 0.005).