What is a common effect of excessive gastrin production in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome?

In Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, the pancreas produces excessive amounts of gastrin, a hormone that stimulates the secretion of gastric acid from the parietal cells in the stomach. This increased gastrin level leads to hypersecretion of gastric acid, resulting in a significantly higher level of acidity in the stomach.

The principal symptom of the condition is related to this increased acid production, often resulting in recurrent peptic ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and other complications associated with high acid levels. Understanding this mechanism highlights the role of gastrin in regulating acid production, making increased acid secretion the hallmark effect of excessive gastrin in Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Other options, while they may be related to gastrointestinal conditions, do not capture the primary consequence of excessive gastrin in this specific syndrome. For example, weight gain is not typically associated with this disorder; instead, patients may experience weight loss due to pain and severe gastrointestinal complications. Decreased gastric motility is not a typical effect of elevated gastrin levels, as gastrin generally promotes gastric motility along with acid secretion. Elevated bile production is also unrelated to gastrin levels, focusing instead on liver function and gallbladder activity.