Serum gastrin concentrations in healthy males and females of various ages.

We measured, by the RIA method, the concentrations of serum gastrin in a fasting state in 80 healthy volunteers of both sexes (M = 43, F = 37) aged 15-81 years. We did not find significant differences in the mean values of gastrin among them and the correlation of gastrin with the ages was insignificant. Further study of various age groups (15-29, 30-59, greater than 60 years) in both sexes and of two more age groups (18-45, 46-71) in the females, did not disclose any significant differences either. People of ages greater than 60 years had the greatest concentration of gastrin. Furthermore, we studied the concentrations of gastrin in the sera of 39 of these 80 people (M = 23, F = 16), aged 15-47 years, 10 min. and 40 min. after a test meal. No differences were found between the two sexes. However, although the mean levels of gastrin were significantly increased 10 min and 40 min after the meal in comparison with the fasting levels in both sexes, only in the men was the increase after 40 min. significantly greater than that after 10 min.