Fasting and food-stimulated serum gastrin concentration in 151 duodenal ulcer patients and 41 non-dyspeptic volunteers. Significant sex differences.

In 41 non-dyspeptic volunteers (18 females and 23 males) the fasting and food-stimulated serum gastrin concentration was investigated. No significant sex differences were found in the basal serum gastrin concentration. The integrated postprandial gastrin output, however, was significantly higher in females than in males. In 151 duodenal ulcer patients (31 women and 120 men) significant sex differences were found in both the fasting and the food-stimulated serum gastrin concentration. Women had values approximately 60% higher than men. In 116 of the patients (27 women and 89 men) the basal and pentagastrin-stimulated gastric acid concentrations were investigated. In the basal state no significant sex differences in acid output were found. After stimulation women had significantly lower gastric acidity and gastric acid output than men.