The elimination of meat from the diet selectively decreases pancreatic elastase secretion

Abstract

Since the vegetarian diet lacks the substrate for pancreatic elastase-1 as an enzyme, a decreased secretion of this enzyme could be expected. We aimed therefore to assess the changes of exocrine pancreatic secretion in a prospective way in a group of healthy omnivores who modified their diet by abstaining from meat for 1 month. Twenty healthy omnivores (fourteen females and six males) were used in the study. The nutrient intake was assessed for 7 d before commencing the study (omnivore diet) and after 1 month of dietary modification (modified diet; meat excluded). Similarly, the faecal output of pancreatic enzymes (elastase-1, chymotrypsin and lipase) was assessed before and 1 month after the period of dietary modification. Statistical differences between two points of the assessment (paired data) were calculated with the use of the Wilcoxon rank test. The relationship between the changes of faecal enzyme output and the changes in nutrient intake was assessed using multiple regression analysis. The dietary changes resulted in statistically significant decrease of faecal elastase-1 output (P, 0·05), whereas for chymotrypsin and lipase no changes were observed. No significant change in stool weight was recorded. No statistically significant correlation between changes in energy and nutrient consumption and changes in faecal output of pancreatic enzymes has been found. It was concluded that the exclusion of meat from the diet for a 1-month period results in significant changes in pancreatic secretion with a selective decrease of elastase-1 output. However, the underlying factor remains unclear.

Adaptive changes of pancreatic protease secretion to a short-term vegan diet: influence of reduced intake and modification of protein

“…Relationships between FE1 and FChT stool concentrations and changes in animal/plant protein consumption were also documented in the present study. The observed reduction of faecal output of pancreatic enzymes remains in concordance with previous observations from a lacto-ovovegetarian model ( 1 ) . It may, however, also be suggested that the change in the type of proteins (animal v. plant) may play a role in an adaptive decrease in FE1 secretion.…”

“…The elimination of meat from the diet results in the lack of elastin, the target molecule for elastase-1, and this may be what is responsible for the observed decrease in its pancreatic secretion. However, exclusion of dairy products and eggs (high content of aromatic amino acids) could affect the lowering of chymotrypsin concentrations as documented in the present study, especially since 5 weeks of the lacto-ovovegetarian diet did not result in chymotrypsin decline ( 1 ) .…”

“…Walkowiak et al assessed the changes of exocrine pancreatic secretion in a group of healthy omnivores who modified their diet by abstaining from meat (following a lacto-ovovegetarian model) for 1 month ( 1 ) . These dietary changes resulted in a statistically significant decrease in pancreatic secretion as measured by faecal elastase-1 (FE1) output.…”

Gut Microbial Protein Expression in Response to Dietary Patterns in a Controlled Feeding Study: A Metaproteomic Approach

“…Pancreatic secretion of enzymes that aid in the digestion of diets are responsive to changes in the composition of dietary intake [19][20][21]. In our study, alpha amylase was higher in the RG diet and chymotrypsin was higher in the WG diet.…”

The effect of carbohydrate rich diet on rat pancreas morphological and ultrastructural characteristics in experimentally induced hypothyroidism

“…Acinusne ćelije egzokrinog pankreasa posvećene su sintezi i sekreciji digestivnih enzima, koja se odvija na gER-u i pod kontrolom je hormona, neurotransmitera i faktora rasta (Williams 2006). Pored toga, brzina sinteze i enzimski sastav pankreasnog soka prilagođavaju se relativnoj zastupljenosti pojedinih hranljivih materija u dijeti (Ben Abelilil et al 1963, Howard and Yudkin 1963, Johnson et al 1977, Bourdel 1983, Schick et al 1984, Sabb et al 1986, Wicker and Puigserver 1987, Walkowiak et al 2007.…”