Gastrin

Overview

Gastrin is a hormone produced by special cells in the lining of your stomach, known as G cells. Imagine gastrin as a messenger that signals your stomach to produce gastric acid, which is essential for breaking down the food you eat. This process is like turning on the oven before baking - it prepares your stomach to digest food properly. Gastrin plays a vital role in the digestive system, ensuring that nutrients from your meals are absorbed efficiently. By measuring gastrin levels, healthcare providers can assess how well your stomach is functioning and whether it's producing the right amount of acid. Abnormal gastrin levels can indicate issues with your digestive health, helping doctors diagnose and manage potential stomach problems.

Testing Levels:

• High (40 pmol/L) - If your gastrin levels are higher than normal, it suggests that your stomach is producing too much of this hormone. This could be due to conditions like Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, where a gastrinoma (a type of tumour) causes excessive gastrin production. High gastrin levels can lead to increased stomach acid, resulting in symptoms like stomach pain, ulcers, diarrhoea, and heartburn. Other causes might include chronic atrophic gastritis or prolonged use of medications that suppress stomach acid. Identifying elevated gastrin levels helps healthcare providers determine the underlying cause and develop a treatment plan to manage symptoms and prevent complications.
  
  
• Mid - Gastrin levels within the normal range indicate that your stomach is producing the right amount of acid to digest food effectively. Everything is functioning smoothly, with gastrin ensuring that your digestive system breaks down nutrients properly. This balance supports overall health by promoting comfortable digestion and efficient nutrient absorption.
  
  When gastrin levels are nearing the upper limit of normal, it might indicate that your stomach is starting to produce more gastrin than usual. This could be an early sign of conditions that increase gastrin production or a response to medications that reduce stomach acid. While it may not indicate a serious problem, it's a signal to monitor your digestive health. Making lifestyle adjustments, such as reviewing your diet or discussing medication use with your doctor, can help bring gastrin levels back to a normal range and maintain healthy digestion.
  
  If your gastrin levels are near the lower end of normal, it suggests that your stomach is producing slightly less gastrin. This could happen if you're taking certain medications that suppress gastrin secretion or if there's reduced activity of the stomach lining. While low gastrin levels are less common and often not a cause for concern, they might affect digestion and nutrient absorption slightly. Monitoring these levels helps ensure your digestive system remains efficient.
  
  
• Low (13 pmol/L) - Gastrin levels below normal mean your stomach isn't producing much of this hormone, leading to decreased stomach acid production. This can make it harder for your body to digest food and absorb nutrients like vitamin B12 and iron. Causes might include damage to the stomach lining or certain medical treatments affecting the stomach. Symptoms could include bloating, indigestion, or nutrient deficiencies. Understanding low gastrin levels allows healthcare providers to investigate further and suggest ways to support your digestive health, possibly through dietary changes or supplements.

Why We Test Gastrin

Testing gastrin levels helps identify issues with stomach acid production, which is essential for proper digestion and nutrient absorption. If you're experiencing symptoms like stomach pain, ulcers, heartburn, or digestive discomfort, measuring gastrin can assist in diagnosing conditions like Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, gastrinomas, chronic gastritis, or other digestive disorders. It guides healthcare providers in developing a treatment plan to manage symptoms and improve your digestive health. Regular monitoring might be important if you have conditions affecting gastrin levels or if you're taking medications that impact stomach acid production.

What Affects It

Several factors can influence gastrin levels in your body. Eating, especially protein-rich foods, naturally increases gastrin as your stomach prepares to digest food. Medications that reduce stomach acid, like antacids or proton pump inhibitors, can cause your body to produce more gastrin to compensate. Health conditions such as chronic gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining), Helicobacter pylori infection, or pernicious anaemia can also affect gastrin production. Rare tumours called gastrinomas produce excessive amounts of gastrin, leading to significantly higher levels. Even stress and caffeine intake might influence gastrin secretion.

How to Improve

If gastrin levels are high or approaching the higher limit, working with your healthcare provider to identify the cause is important. Treatment might involve medications to reduce stomach acid, addressing underlying infections like Helicobacter pylori, or treating any tumours if present. Adjusting medications that affect stomach acid, under medical guidance, can also help. Dietary changes, such as reducing foods that stimulate acid production (like spicy foods, caffeine, and alcohol), might provide relief. If gastrin levels are low or nearing the lower limit, ensuring a balanced diet that supports digestion can be beneficial. Your doctor might investigate potential causes like nutrient deficiencies or stomach lining damage and recommend dietary supplements or specific treatments to enhance stomach acid production. Regular follow-ups help maintain gastrin levels within a healthy range, supporting overall digestive well-being.

Common Name: Gastrin