Pancreatic secretion in response to jejunal feeding of elemental diet.

The instillation of elemental diet into the proximal jejunum of dogs results in a brisk pancreatic secretory response, but the fluid is watery and "enzyme-poor." The administration of the caloric equivalent in a standard blenderized ward diet induces pancreatic enzyme secretion. Although elemental diet does not "rest" the pancreas, the failure of these preparations to stimulate pancreatic enzyme secretion gives them a theoretical advantage as a nutritional source in the convalescent phase of acute pancreatitis.