Do you often get heartburn or chest pain? Do you think you have what we all call "gastritis"? If you have a feeling that food is not digested and you are constantly having stomach pain, one of the reasons for this could be a chemical messenger produced in our body. Today we are going to talk about a hormone called Gastrin, which you may not have heard of, but which is very important for our digestive system.
Simply put, what is Gastrin?
Gastrin is a hormone that helps your digestive system work properly. Now you're probably wondering what this hormone is. Think of it like a little messenger inside our body. These hormones travel through the blood throughout the body, telling each organ, "Okay, now you do this job" and "Now stop doing this job." So gastrin is also an important messenger that gives instructions to our intestines.
This gastrin hormone is mainly produced by a special type of cell called G-cells in the walls of the lower part of our stomach (stomach) . In addition, small amounts are produced by the first part of our small intestine (duodenum) and the pancreas.
What are the main things that gastrin does to our body?
Gastrin performs several very important functions in our digestive system. Let's take a look at what they are.
- Gastric acid production: In order to digest the food we eat, our stomach needs a type of acid. This is called hydrochloric acid. Gastrin is what gives the stomach the signal, "Okay, start making acid now." This acid starts breaking down the proteins in the food.
- Causes the stomach muscles to contract: When food enters the stomach, it needs to be thoroughly mixed, mixed with acid, and broken down. This requires the muscles in the stomach walls to move back and forth and contract. This is called gastric motility. Gastrin is what tells these muscles to work.
- Helps protect the stomach wall: The acid in the stomach is very strong. So to keep the stomach walls from being damaged by that strong acid, the cells in the wall need to be constantly renewed. This is what we call the stomach mucosa. Gastrin also helps these cells grow new ones.
- Helps the pancreas and gallbladder: Together with another hormone, cholecystokinin, gastrin sends signals to our pancreas and gallbladder to release their digestive juices.
Our brain and gut are constantly talking. Just think about it, when you think about a delicious meal, or even smell it, you salivate, right? Similarly, the brain also sends a signal to the stomach, saying, "Food is ready, start producing gastrin."
What happens if gastrin levels increase?
They say that too much of anything is not good. That is also common with gastrin. When the level of gastrin in the blood increases more than necessary, we call it hypergastrinemia . What happens if this happens?
Simply put, when gastrin increases, stomach acid production increases too. It's like turning up the heat on a stove too high. This excess acidity begins to damage the lining of the stomach. This is because:
- Peptic Ulcer Disease: This harsh acid can burn the walls of the stomach or small intestine, causing ulcers.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when excess stomach acid can flow back up into the esophagus, causing symptoms such as heartburn and sore throat.
If you have frequent heartburn, and it doesn't go away even after taking medication, your doctor may order a blood test to check your gastrin levels.
What are the medical conditions that cause elevated gastrin levels?
There can be various reasons behind the increase in gastrin levels. Sometimes it can increase with the acidity of the stomach, and sometimes gastrin can increase even when the acidity is low. To understand this, see the table below.
| Status | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Cases where both gastrin and stomach acid are elevated | |
| Gastrinomas | These are gastrin-producing tumors that develop in the pancreas or small intestine. They can be cancerous or noncancerous. This condition is called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome . |
| Chronic kidney failure | When the kidneys are not working properly, the process of removing gastrin from the body is impaired, causing gastrin levels in the blood to rise. |
| Cases where gastrin is elevated and stomach acid is reduced | |
| Atrophic gastritis | In this condition, the cells that produce acid in the stomach are destroyed. When acid production decreases, the body thinks it needs more acid, so it produces more gastrin. This can be caused by an infection with the bacteria H. pylori or by autoimmune problems . |
| Acid-reducing medications | We often take medications for gastritis, such as H2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), to stop the production of stomach acid. Without acid, the body is tempted to produce more gastrin. |
What should I do if I have symptoms like these?
If you regularly experience one or more of the following symptoms, you should be concerned.
- Stomach pain or stabbing pain
- Frequent heartburn and indigestion
- Food or stomach acid coming up into the throat
- Long-term sore throat and hoarseness
- Chronic diarrhea (diarrhea)
- Other digestive system problems
The most important thing is that if you have had these symptoms for a long time, you should definitely see a doctor and seek advice, rather than just taking medication from the pharmacy.
Your doctor will order a blood test to check your gastrin levels, if necessary. He or she may also recommend an endoscopy, which involves using a camera to look inside your stomach. Once the cause is determined, appropriate treatment can be started.
It will be a great relief to know the reason behind these stomach discomforts. The hormone gastrin is just one piece of the puzzle. With the right medical treatment, you can get rid of these discomforts and live a comfortable life.
Take-Home Message
- Gastrin is a hormone essential to our digestive system. It helps produce stomach acid and digest food.
- If gastrin levels increase too much, stomach acid can increase, leading to conditions such as stomach ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
- Don't ignore symptoms like frequent stomach aches, chest pain, and indigestion.
- If you have symptoms like these, do not self-medicate, but definitely see a qualified doctor for advice.
- Gastrin levels can be measured with a simple blood test, so there's no need to worry.
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