Background: Disturbances in the endocrine pancreatic function
increases with age, yet the deterioration of the exocrine gland
has gained less attention. With aging, the incidence of
maldigestive symptoms and malnutrition increases, raising the
possibility that these might be caused at least in part by
inadequate pancreatic enzyme secretion due to degenerative
processes of the gland. Purpose: To investigate fecal elastase-1
(FE-1) levels among over 60 years old Egyptian individuals
without known gastrointestinal disease or diabetes mellitus.
Methodology: FE-1 was measured by ELISA in 45 subjects
divided into a case group of 35 individuals who are old age in
normal status without known gastrointestinal disease, prior
gastrointestinal surgery or diabetes mellitus and another control
group of 10 young healthy controls. Results: There was
significant difference of FE-1 level between case and control
groups with significant low median and range value of FE-1
level in case group ,also there was significant relationship between FE-1 level and presence of
dyspeptic symptoms in both case and control groups. Median and range value of FE-1 level in
subjects having dyspeptic symptoms was low compared to those having no symptoms in case
group. ROC curve analysis revealed that FE-1 cut off value