Influence of remote cancer and obesity on, and distribution of mucosal enzymes in, the upper small intestine.

A series of mucosal enzymes were estimated by analysis of homogenized biopsy specimens from the lower duodenal flexure, obtained from 10 large-bowel carcinoma patients, 15 patients with morbid obesity, and 15 controls. In 11 subjects the distribution along the upper small intestine was determined. The activities of the brush border enzymes lactase (p less than 0.01), neutral-alpha-glucosidase (p less than 0.01), and alkaline phosphatase (p less than 0.05) were significantly lower in the large-bowel carcinoma patients than in the controls. In obese subjects significantly lower activities (p less than 0.05) were demonstrated for the basolateral membrane enzyme 5'-nucleotidase and the lysosomal enzymes N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and acid beta-glucuronidase, when compared with those in controls. Compared with the enzyme levels of the duodenal bulb, significantly higher activities of a series of enzymes were demonstrated at both the lower duodenal flexure and the angle of Treitz.