Effect of Age on Fasting Plasma Levels of Pancreatic Hormones in Man*

Abstract

The effect of age and adiposity on fasting plasma levels of pancreatic polypeptide (HPP), glucagon (IRG), insulin (IRI) and glucose was examined in 263 healthy subjects between the ages of 20-69 yr. Mean plasma levels of hPP rose continuously from the third through the seventh decades. Mean plasma levels of IRG rose within the third and fourth decades but failed to rise further thereafter. Mean plasma levels of IRI did not change with age. Mean plasma levels of glucose rose by approximately 2 mg/dl . decade. The correlations of age with hPP, IRG, glucose, and adiposity were 0.47, 0.35, 0.25 (all P less than 0.01) and 0.15 (P less than 0.05), respectively. When adjustments were made for adiposity, the correlations of age with hPP, IRG, and glucose remained. Adiposity correlated with IRI, IRG, and glucose but when age correction was made, only the correlation of adiposity with IRI persisted. We conclude that: 1) age has a significant effect on fasting plasma levels of hPP and IRG; 2) the patterns of the age-related changes in hPP and IRG are not the same, suggesting that there are differences in the mechanism(s) by which age influences plasma levels of these two pancreatic hormones; and 3) age should be considered in the interpretation of fasting plasma levels of hPP and IRG.

Glucagon physiology and aging: Evidence for enhanced hepatic sensitivity

“…In the present study, we failed to demonstrate any age-related change in fasting plasma glucagon. Taken with the published results of Berger et al [6] and Dudl and Ensinck [4], it would appear that after the age of 30 years, there is little, if any, change in postabsorptive plasma glucagon levels. Whether or not fasting glucagon concentrations are lower in subjects under the age of 30 years is still open to question.…”

“…Dudl and Ensinck [4] failed to find any changes in fasting glucagon concentration throughout the entire adult age span. Similarly, Berger et al [6] reported no difference in basal immunoreactive glucagon in subjects between 30 and 69 years, although they did find lower fasting values in 20-29 year old subjects compared with those over 30 years of age. In a preliminary study, Marco et al [7] reported slightly higher fasting plasma glucagon levels in elderly versus young subjects.…”

“…In a preliminary study, Marco et al [7] reported slightly higher fasting plasma glucagon levels in elderly versus young subjects. The precise age range, however, was not given and it is not clear whether the lower fasting glucagon concentrations occurred only in the youngest (< 30 years) subjects as reported by Berger et al [6] or whether there was a progressive increase throughout the entire age span. In the present study, we failed to demonstrate any age-related change in fasting plasma glucagon.…”

“…Recently, both Berger et al [6] and Marco et al [7] have reported, in preliminary studies, higher fasting glucagon levels in healthy subjects over the age of 60 years compared to subjects in their twenties. Marco et al [7] also documented impaired glucagon suppression after oral glucose and higher plasma glucagon levels following arginine stimulation.…”

Correlation between gastric emptying time and the response of pancreatic polypeptide to test meals in peptic ulcer diseases.

“…It has been reported that basal PP concentrations tend to increase with age (Berger et al 1978;Schwartz et al 1979). In our present study gastric and duodenal ulcer patients were relatively old, especially the latter patients were significantly older than controls.…”