Dissociation of the intrinsic factor--vitamin B12 complex by bile: contributing factor to B12 malabsorption in pancreatic insufficiency.

Human bile incubated with vitamin B12 bound to intrinsic factor in human gastric juice will effectively dissociate this complex, and the vitamin will transfer to non-intrinsic factor unsaturated binding protein(s) contained in bile. Preincubation of the bile with pancreatic enzymes, particularly trypsin, and pepsin, decreases this effect of bile on the intrinsic factor--vitamin B12 complex by digesting the unsaturated binder(s) in the bile. These studies help explain why there is malabsorption of tracer amounts of vitamin B12 in some patients with pancreatic insufficiency, and why this abnormality is correctable by the administration of pancreatic extract.