The pancreas produces insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, amylin, pancreatic polypeptide, and small amounts of ghrelin from its islet cells.
If you searched “which hormones does the pancreas produce?”, you’re in the right spot today.
The pancreas has two jobs. One side releases digestive juices into the gut. The other releases hormones into the blood. This piece sticks to the hormone side and spells out what’s made, where it’s made, what tends to trigger release, and what each hormone does for glucose control.
Pancreas Hormones At A Glance
| Hormone | Main Islet Cell Source | What It Mainly Does |
|---|---|---|
| Insulin | Beta (β) cells | Moves glucose into cells; stores fuel |
| Amylin | Beta (β) cells | Slows stomach emptying; tempers post-meal glucose rise |
| Glucagon | Alpha (α) cells | Raises blood glucose by signaling liver glucose release |
| Somatostatin | Delta (δ) cells | Dampens insulin and glucagon release; slows gut signaling |
| Pancreatic polypeptide (PP) | PP/F cells | Tunes pancreatic secretion and appetite signaling |
| Ghrelin (minor in pancreas) | Epsilon (ε) cells | Hunger signal; can restrain insulin release |
| Other local peptides (trace) | Mixed endocrine cells | Fine-tunes islet “cross-talk” |
Where These Hormones Come From Inside The Pancreas
Hormones come from clusters called islets of Langerhans. Each islet is packed with capillaries, so secreted hormones enter blood fast. The rest of the pancreas is exocrine tissue that sends enzymes into the small intestine.
Inside one islet, cell types sit close together and trade local signals. That matters because the pancreas doesn’t run hormones one at a time. It uses a group of “push” and “brake” signals released in short bursts.
Islet blood drains straight into the portal vein, so the liver “sees” pancreatic hormones early and at higher concentration. That’s one reason the liver is such a big player in glucose balance. When insulin rises, the liver stores glucose fast. When glucagon rises, the liver releases glucose fast. This first-pass setup keeps fuel control quick and efficient for minute-to-minute glucose control.
Which Hormones Does the Pancreas Produce? Full Answer With Roles
The core list is insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, pancreatic polypeptide, and amylin. Many sources also note small pancreatic production of ghrelin. You may also see mention of extra peptides in tiny amounts, yet the core set answers most school and health questions.
Insulin
Insulin is released from beta cells when blood glucose rises, most often after eating. Amino acids can also prompt release, since tissues use insulin to handle nutrient storage and growth.
Insulin helps glucose move from blood into muscle and fat by shifting glucose transporters to the cell surface. In the liver, it favors glycogen storage and slows new glucose release. It also signals “store fuel,” nudging fat storage and dialing down fat breakdown.
The NIH-hosted endocrine pancreas chapter gives a clean overview of insulin and glucagon actions.
Amylin
Amylin is released alongside insulin from beta cells. It slows stomach emptying, so glucose enters the blood more gradually. It also quiets glucagon after meals, which helps avoid a double dose of incoming and liver-released glucose.
Glucagon
Glucagon is the counterweight to insulin. Alpha cells release it when glucose drops, such as between meals, overnight, or during long exercise. The liver is its main target.
Under glucagon’s signal, the liver breaks down glycogen into glucose and also makes glucose from lactate, glycerol, and amino acids. Glucagon also supports fat use, helping spare glucose for tissues that rely on it. It can also be given as a rescue shot for severe hypoglycemia.
Somatostatin
Somatostatin is made by delta cells. Inside the islet it works like a brake, suppressing both insulin and glucagon secretion. That “brake” effect reduces sharp swings and helps keep the system steady.
Somatostatin also affects the gut by slowing some digestive hormone signals and secretions. That gut effect is one reason it shows up in medical therapy as a synthetic analog.
Pancreatic Polypeptide
Pancreatic polypeptide, often shortened to PP, is released from PP (F) cells. PP often rises after eating and may also rise during fasting or exercise.
PP helps tune exocrine secretion and gallbladder activity. It also feeds into brain pathways tied to appetite and satiety. Inside the islet, PP can shape the release of other hormones through local signaling between nearby cells.
Ghrelin
Ghrelin is best known as a stomach hormone that rises with hunger, yet a small group of epsilon cells in the pancreas can make it too. Pancreatic ghrelin seems to act as a local regulator and can restrain insulin under some conditions.
In humans, most circulating ghrelin still comes from the stomach, so it’s a minor answer when someone asks what the pancreas produces.
How Islet Cells Know When To Release Hormones
Islet cells read the chemistry of the blood flowing past them. Beta cells act as glucose sensors: glucose enters the cell, is processed for energy, potassium channels close, the membrane shifts, calcium flows in, and insulin vesicles release their contents.
Alpha, delta, and PP cells also respond to nutrient levels, plus signals from nearby cells. That local cross-talk is why hormone release after a mixed meal can look different from release during fasting.
Where Pancreas Hormones Act In The Body
Insulin’s main targets are liver, muscle, and fat. Muscle pulls in glucose for work and storage. Fat stores energy and slows fat release. The liver stores glycogen and reduces glucose export.
Glucagon mainly targets the liver to send glucose out. Somatostatin restrains secretion inside the islet and also slows some gut activity. PP interacts with digestive organs and appetite signaling. Amylin slows stomach emptying and feeds into satiety circuits.
Why Different Sources List Different Pancreatic Hormones
Most sources agree on insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, PP, and amylin. Differences show up when a list includes only hormones that reach blood in meaningful amounts versus peptides that act mainly as local messengers.
Some hormones are made in more than one organ. Ghrelin is made mainly in the stomach, yet it can also be produced in small amounts in the pancreas, so it may or may not appear on short lists.
When Pancreas Hormone Trouble Shows Up
Many people notice trouble through glucose symptoms: unusual thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, shakiness, sweating, or confusion. Sudden, severe symptoms call for urgent medical care.
How Pancreas Hormones Work Together After A Meal
After a carb-containing meal, glucose rises in blood and reaches the islets. Beta cells respond by releasing insulin and amylin. Insulin pushes glucose into tissues and signals the liver to store it. Amylin slows stomach emptying and keeps glucagon lower during the post-meal window.
Delta cells may release somatostatin in pulses, keeping insulin and glucagon from overshooting. PP can rise as digestion ramps up. The combined effect is a smoother glucose curve that matches fuel flow to what tissues can use.
How Pancreas Hormones Protect You During Fasting And Exercise
When you haven’t eaten for hours, insulin secretion drops. Low insulin lets the liver release stored glucose and lets fat stores open up for energy use.
As glucose trends down, alpha cells release glucagon. The liver responds by breaking down glycogen and making glucose from lactate, glycerol, and amino acids. That output helps keep the brain supplied during longer gaps between meals.
Common Mix-Ups People Have About Pancreatic Hormones
Mix-up 1: Digestive enzymes are hormones. Enzymes act in the gut to break food down. Hormones travel in blood to change cell behavior.
Mix-up 2: Only insulin matters. Insulin is central, yet it works as part of a set that includes glucagon, local brakes, and meal-timing signals.
Mix-up 3: Glucagon is a ‘bad’ hormone. Glucagon is protective in normal physiology. Trouble comes when the insulin–glucagon balance gets distorted.
Mix-up 4: Somatostatin only comes from the brain. Somatostatin is made in several tissues, including pancreatic delta cells.
What Changes When The Pancreas Can’t Make Enough Hormone
When beta cells can’t meet insulin needs, glucose rises. In type 1 diabetes, insulin production can fall near zero after immune damage to beta cells. In type 2 diabetes, insulin can be present yet not work well at target tissues, a state called insulin resistance. Over time, beta cell output can also drop.
Glucagon patterns can shift too. Some people with diabetes have higher-than-expected glucagon after meals, pushing glucose up further. Since islet cells signal to each other, disruption in one cell type can ripple through the rest.
StatPearls’ pancreas anatomy review lists the main islet cell types and their hormone products.
Tests Clinicians Use To Infer Pancreas Hormone Output
You can’t measure “pancreas output” with one number. Clinicians piece it together with tests that reflect hormone secretion or hormone action.
| Test | What It Reflects | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| Fasting glucose | Baseline glucose control | Screening and monitoring |
| HbA1c | Average glucose over about 3 months | Diagnosis and follow-up |
| Fasting insulin | Insulin in circulation at rest | Context for insulin resistance |
| C-peptide | Body’s own insulin production | Type 1 vs type 2 patterns |
| Mixed-meal tolerance test | Meal-triggered insulin response | Beta cell reserve |
| Glucagon (specialty) | Alpha cell secretion | Selected endocrine workups |
| Stool elastase | Exocrine enzyme output | Digestive side check |
Quick Study Cues That Stick
If you’re memorizing which hormones the pancreas produces, tie each one to a plain job description.
- Insulin: stores fuel and lowers blood glucose.
- Glucagon: releases fuel and raises blood glucose.
- Amylin: slows glucose arrival after meals.
- Somatostatin: restrains swings.
- PP: tunes digestive output and satiety signaling.
- Ghrelin (minor): nudges hunger signals and can restrain insulin.
Recap
So, which hormones does the pancreas produce? The core set is insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, pancreatic polypeptide, and amylin, with smaller pancreatic ghrelin production. Together they keep glucose usable after meals, keep it available during fasting, and smooth the swings that would wear the system down.
Mo Maruf
I created WellFizz to bridge the gap between vague wellness advice and actionable solutions. My mission is simple: to decode the research and give you practical tools you can actually use.
Beyond the data, I am a passionate traveler. I believe that stepping away from the screen to explore new environments is essential for mental clarity and physical vitality.