Why does pancreatic enzyme activity diminish substantially after a total gastrectomy, leading to digestive malabsorption?

💡 Explanation

Gastric acid normally triggers secretin release in the duodenum; secretin then stimulates pancreatic enzyme secretion. After gastrectomy, gastric acid entry is reduced, lessening secretin release, thereby diminishing enzyme production. Therefore, reduced gastric acid stimulation explains diminished pancreatic enzyme activity, rather than direct neural suppression.

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