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Title: Reliability of a new technique for the determination of vitamin B12 absorption in children: single stool sample test--a double isotope technique

Journal Article · · J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr.; (United States)

The fractional vitamin B12 absorption (FAB12) was determined in 39 patients with various gastrointestinal diseases by a double-isotope technique, employing a single stool sample test (SSST), as well as a complete stool collection. The age of the patients ranged from 2.5 months to 16.2 years (mean 5.0 years). The test dose was administered orally and consisted of 0.5-4.5 micrograms of /sup 57/CoB12 (approximately 0.05 microCi), carmine powder, and 2 mg /sup 51/CrCl/sub 3/ (approximately 1.25 microCi) as the inabsorbable tracer. The wholebody radiation to a 1-year-old child averaged only 20 mrad. The stool and napkin was collected and homogenized by addition of 300 ml chromium sulfuric acid. A 300-ml sample of the homogenized stool and napkin, as well as 300 ml chromium sulfuric acid (75% v/v) containing the standards, were counted in a broad-based well counter. The FAB12 determined by SSST employing the stool with the highest content of /sup 51/Cr (which corresponded to the most carmine-colored stool) correlated closely to the FAB12 based on complete stool collection (r = 0.98, n = 39, p less than 0.001). The reproducibility of FAB12 determined by SSST was assessed from double assays in 19 patients. For a mean value of 12%, the SD was 3%, which corresponded to a coefficient of variation (CV) of 25%. The excretion of /sup 57/Co and /sup 51/Cr in the urine was examined in six patients with moderate to severe mucosal damage and was found to be low.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Copenhagen, Hellerup, Denmark
OSTI ID:
5810436
Journal Information:
J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr.; (United States), Vol. 2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English