THE EFFECT OF DIET ON JEJUNAL ENZYMES

In order to study gastrointestinal disease it is necessary to define the normal metabolic processes of the gastrointestinal mucosa. Biopsies of the jejunal mucosal epithelium were performed on normal healthy male volunteers, obese patients undergoing starvation for weight reduction, and certain patients with chronic gastrointestinal disease. Controlled diets were given to volunteers and patients and the effect of these diets on various jejunal enzyme activities was measured. The normal response of jejunal enzyme activities to dietary substances and the responses of these same enzymes in the patients were determined. The study of the effect of dietary substances on normal jejunal enzyme responses has led to the uncovering of several regulatory mechanisms for jejunal enzymes. This in turn has led to the elucidation of a number of puzzling clinical gastrointestinal conditions. The regulation of jejunal enzyme activities by dietary substances is a normal physiological process and when this process fails to occur clinical disease develops. (Author)