Fish oil reduces gastric acid secretion

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present investigation was to study gastric acid secretion and release of gastrin, cholecystokinin (CCK), and secretin during intraduodenal perfusion of either fish oil or trioleate.

METHODS: Seven healthy volunteers were stimulated on two separate days in random order with intraduodenal perfusates of either fish oil or trioleate.

RESULTS: Intravenous infusion with gastrin-17 was used as a background stimulation in doses mimicking a postprandial situation (39.9 +/- 4.8 pmol/l fish oil and 43.6 +/- 3.8 pmol/l trioleate). Gastric acid secretion increased significantly from a basal level of 0.7 +/- 0.1 meq/15 min to 4.0 +/- 0.6 meq/15 min (P < 0.05) before perfusion of fish oil, which reduced gastric acid secretion to 1.9 +/- 0.4 meq/15 min (P < 0.01). After termination of fish oil perfusion gastric acid secretion increased to preperfusion concentrations (P < 0.01). Perfusion of trioleate did not influence gastric acid secretion. Plasma concentrations of CCK rose significantly during perfusion of fish oil (from 2.8 +/- 0.6 pmol/l to 4.4 +/- 0.7pmol/l, P<0.01), whereas trioleate only tended to increase CCK concentrations. Plasma concentrations of secretin did not change during perfusion of fish oil; however, concentrations were significantly lower during and after perfusion of trioleate (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: The present study shows that intraduodenal perfusion of fish oil is associated with a significant reduction of the gastric acid secretion stimulated by gastrin in healthy humans.