Basal and Fat-Stimulated Plasma Peptide YY Levels in Celiac Disease

The distal gut hormone peptide YY (PYY) mediates feedback inhibition of gastric acid secretion, gastrointestinal motility, and pancreatic enzyme output. To investigate the influence of maldigestion on PYY, we determined plasma PYY levels in patients with celiac disease under basal conditions and in response to intraduodenal fat. Basal PYY was increased in untreated celiac patients (N = 13) compared to patients on a gluten free diet (N = 9) [15.6 (11.8–27.0) pM vs 12.2 (10.1–13.1) pM; P < 0.05] and compared to control subjects (N = 15) [9.5 (8.3–10.4) pM; P < 0.001]. Integrated PYY in response to intraduodenally infused predigested fat (1071 ± 293 pM 80 min) was significantly (P < 0.05) greater than in response to undigested fat (322 ± 223 pM 80 min) in six untreated celiacs. Plasma concentrations of PYY and cholecystokinin were strongly correlated (r = 0.79; P < 0.001). We conclude that basal PYY levels in untreated celiac disease are elevated, that predigestion of fat enhances PYY release in these patients, and that PYY secretion is correlated with CCK release.