Gastrin
Evidence: CGastrointestinal / Gut-Hormone Signaling
Evidence Snapshot
What this grade covers
Applies to native full-length Gastrin-17 and Gastrin-34 human administration/physiology evidence (3 verified controlled human studies located: PMID 7571756, 8105512, 1262460 -- the last directly comparing both native forms' clearance and potency). This is a real but comparatively thin, decades-old, small-study evidence base, not a large modern RCT program. This grade does NOT extend to Pentagastrin, which is a distinct fragment-analogue molecule graded and represented separately, and whose own historical diagnostic-use literature is substantially larger than native Gastrin's -- that asymmetry must not be used to inflate native Gastrin's own C grade. Gastrin-17 and Gastrin-34 show a genuine, human-verified differential potency/clearance relationship (PMID 1262460) and should be discussed with that nuance rather than as interchangeable.
Regulatory Context
Native Gastrin is an endogenous hormone and is not itself an FDA-approved drug product. Pentagastrin was historically marketed in the United States as Peptavlon. FDA later determined that its discontinuation from sale was not for reasons of safety or effectiveness. This review did not establish a currently marketed U.S. pentagastrin product.
Research Takeaway
Native Gastrin circulates predominantly as Gastrin-17 and Gastrin-34, two distinct forms with different clearance rates and different acid-stimulating potency per unit of circulating concentration.
Evidence boundary: Do not treat Gastrin-17 and Gastrin-34 as interchangeable.
See all 4 evidence claims →Quick Summary
Gastrin is a digestive hormone that circulates mainly as two native forms, Gastrin-17 and Gastrin-34, with a documented difference in potency and clearance. Pentagastrin, a synthetic fragment built around gastrin's active core with an added non-natural component, was historically used as a diagnostic agent (Peptavlon) but this review did not establish that any pentagastrin product is currently marketed in the United States.
Mechanism & Research Overview
Gastrin is a digestive hormone that circulates mainly as two native forms, Gastrin-17 and Gastrin-34, with a documented difference in potency and clearance. Pentagastrin, a synthetic fragment built around gastrin's active core with an added non-natural component, was historically used as a diagnostic agent (Peptavlon) but this review did not establish that any pentagastrin product is currently marketed in the United States.
Evidence Claims
Individual scientific statements drawn from the sources cited below, each shown with the specific evidence boundary that statement does not establish.
Supported
Native Gastrin circulates predominantly as Gastrin-17 and Gastrin-34, two distinct forms with different clearance rates and different acid-stimulating potency per unit of circulating concentration.
Does not establish
Evidence boundary: Do not treat Gastrin-17 and Gastrin-34 as interchangeable.
Sources: Clearance and Acid-Stimulating Action of Human Big and Little Gastrins in Duodenal Ulcer Subjects
Supported
Direct intravenous administration of native human Gastrin-17 to healthy or clinical human subjects has been shown to increase gastric acid secretion and lower esophageal sphincter pressure, via histamine- and muscarinic-receptor-dependent mechanisms.
Does not establish
Evidence boundary: Based on small, decades-old controlled human physiology studies; not a modern large-scale clinical trial base, and does not by itself establish any therapeutic use for native Gastrin. Do not infer this evidence from Pentagastrin data.
Sources: Effect of Human Gastrin-17 With and Without Acid Suppression on Human Esophageal Motility; In Man Histamine and Muscarinergic Mechanisms Are Essential Mediators of Acid Secretion in Response to Synthetic Human Gastrin (1-17)
Supported
Pentagastrin is a synthetic pentapeptide combining a non-native beta-alanine residue with the native C-terminal bioactive tetrapeptide sequence of Gastrin. It is not full-length Gastrin-17 or Gastrin-34 and is not an unrestricted Gastrin alias.
Does not establish
Evidence boundary: This identity statement does not transfer Pentagastrin's own clinical/diagnostic history onto native Gastrin's evidence grade. Never classify Pentagastrin as identical to native Gastrin.
Sources: MitoCore Editorial Search Audit -- Pentagastrin Sequence/Structure Verification
Supported
Pentagastrin was historically marketed in the United States as Peptavlon. FDA later determined that its discontinuation from sale was not for reasons of safety or effectiveness. This review did not establish a currently marketed U.S. pentagastrin product.
Does not establish
Evidence boundary: This is a historical, status-qualified regulatory statement, not a present-tense approval claim, and does not describe native Gastrin's own regulatory status. NEVER state 'Pentagastrin is currently FDA-approved and marketed.'
Sources: Federal Register Determination re: PEPTAVLON (Pentagastrin) Injection, 0.25 mg/mL; MitoCore Editorial Search Audit -- Current US Pentagastrin Marketing Status
Safety & Evidence Limitations
Considerations reported in the sources cited on this page — not a complete list of every possible risk, and not medical advice.
Safety Consideration
Pentagastrin's historical diagnostic-use data (gastric acid secretory testing, Zollinger-Ellison diagnosis) must not be presented as native Gastrin's own efficacy or safety evidence.Safety Consideration
The controlled human administration literature specific to native full-length Gastrin-17/34 located in this review is small, decades-old (1970s-1990s), and physiology/mechanism-focused rather than a modern clinical-outcomes trial base.Safety Consideration
This review could not confirm any currently marketed US pentagastrin product. Present-tense 'FDA-approved and marketed' language must not be used.
Research Areas Being Studied
Research areas discussed on this page reflect the Gastrointestinal / Gut-Hormone Signaling category and the sources cited below.
Findings Reported in Studies
Educational summary only — reported in cited studies, not a claim of proven benefit.
- Effect of Human Gastrin-17 With and Without Acid Suppression on Human Esophageal Motility (1995):
- In Man Histamine and Muscarinergic Mechanisms Are Essential Mediators of Acid Secretion in Response to Synthetic Human Gastrin (1-17) (1993):
- Clearance and Acid-Stimulating Action of Human Big and Little Gastrins in Duodenal Ulcer Subjects (1976):
Study Tables by Evidence Type
Human Studies & Clinical Data
| Title | Year | Population / Model | Dose / Duration / Finding | Safety Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Effect of Human Gastrin-17 With and Without Acid Suppression on Human Esophageal Motility | 1995 | Infusion of human Gastrin-17 caused a significant increase of lower esophageal sphincter pressure from 19.0 to 25.8 mmHg (p<0.05, low dose) and from 18.5 to 23.3 mmHg (p<0.05, high dose), with and without acid suppression. | |||
| In Man Histamine and Muscarinergic Mechanisms Are Essential Mediators of Acid Secretion in Response to Synthetic Human Gastrin (1-17) | 1993 | Histamine and muscarinic mechanisms are essential mediators of gastrin-stimulated acid secretion, shown via IV native/synthetic human Gastrin(1-17). | |||
| Clearance and Acid-Stimulating Action of Human Big and Little Gastrins in Duodenal Ulcer Subjects | 1976 | duodenal ulcer subjects | Gastrin-17 ('little gastrin') disappearance half-life was 5.2 min (infusion)/6.4 min (injection) vs. 41.5/37.8 min for Gastrin-34 ('big gastrin'). During constant infusion, circulating Gastrin-34 concentrations were six to eight times greater than Gastrin-17 yet produced similar acid responses, indicating Gastrin-17 is roughly 6-8x more potent per unit of circulating concentration. After peptone stimulation, native Gastrin-34 comprised ~three-fourths of total circulating gastrin but contributed less than half of total acid-stimulating activity. |
Animal / Cell / Preclinical Data
No Animal / Cell / Preclinical Data Listed Yet
This section will be updated as sources are added.
Regulatory Documents & Official Trial Registries
| Title | Year | Population / Model | Dose / Duration / Finding | Safety Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Register Determination re: PEPTAVLON (Pentagastrin) Injection, 0.25 mg/mL | 2006 | PEPTAVLON for subcutaneous injection, 0.25 mg/mL, approved under NDA 17-048, was not withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness. | This determination's sole legal effect is to permit generic ANDAs to reference the original NDA -- it does NOT reinstate or confirm current marketing. Current US marketing status of any pentagastrin product remains unresolved (see companion search-audit source). | No source link available |
Anecdotal Reported Patterns — Not Medical Advice
Anecdotal Reported Patterns — Not Medical Advice
Reported dosing patterns are included for educational context only. They are self-reported, unverified, not medical advice, and not instructions for human use. Community-submitted patterns are not yet available in this Phase 1 prototype; this section is a placeholder reserved for moderated, aggregated community data.
Lab Markers to Discuss With a Clinician
Educational topics only — not self-monitoring instructions.
FAQ
Disclaimer
Educational information only. This page summarizes published human research and official regulatory records about gastrin and pentagastrin and does not constitute medical advice, a treatment recommendation, or dosing guidance.
Educational use only. This content is provided for informational and research-summary purposes only. It is not medical advice, not a treatment recommendation, not a dosing guide, and not a substitute for care from a licensed medical professional. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, prevent, or mitigate disease. Reported dosing patterns, when shown elsewhere on the site, must be labeled either as Study / Trial Dosing or Anecdotal Reported Patterns — Not Medical Advice. Community reports are self-reported, unverified, and not scientific proof.
Community-reported experiences, once enabled, must be displayed only as moderated, anonymized, or aggregated data. They are anecdotal, self-reported, unverified, and should never be presented as proof of safety, efficacy, or expected results.
Content status: Published. Last updated 2026-08-26.
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