Fecal /sup 13/C analysis for the detection and quantitation of intestinal malabsorption

Journal Article · Sun Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · J. Lab. Clin. Med.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6823137

Schoeller, D A; Klein, P D; MacLean, Jr, W C; Watkins, J B; Van Santen, E

The use of /sup 14/CO/sub 2/ breath tests and fecal analyses for the detection and quantitation of intestinal malabsorption has been extensively documented in adult subjects. The use of stable isotopes has extended the range of breath test applications to include pediatric and obstetric subjects. Here we report a fecal /sup 13/C analysis that can be used in conjunction with /sup 13/CO/sub 2/ breath tests. Twenty-four-hour fecal samples were collected before and after the administration of a labeled substrate. The samples were homogenized and combusted to CO/sub 2/, and the /sup 13/C abundance was determined by high-precision, differential isotope ratio mass spectrometry. The isotopic variation between successive 24 hr fecal samples was 0.6 per thousand (0.0006 atom percent). This variation limited the sensitivity of the fecal analysis to 13 ..mu..mol of /sup 13/C label per mole of fecal carbon. Simultaneous cholyglycine /sup 13/CO/sub 2/ breath tests and fecal assays were performed in five children. One child with bacterial overgrowth had an abnormal breath test and a normal fecal test. Of three children with ileal dysfunction, only one had an abnormal breath test, whereas the fecal test was abnormal in all three. Both the breath test and fecal test were abnormal for a child who had undergone an ileal resection. Both tests were normal for a child with ulcerative colitis.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Chicago, IL
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6823137
• Journal Information: J. Lab. Clin. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Lab. Clin. Med.; (United States) Vol. 97:3; ISSN JLCMA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550601* -- Medicine-- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ABSORPTION
AGE GROUPS
AMINO ACIDS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BIOLOGICAL WASTES
CARBON 13
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON ISOTOPES
CARBON OXIDES
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHILDREN
CLEARANCE
DATA
DIAGNOSIS
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM DISEASES
DISEASES
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
EXCRETION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FECES
FEMALES
GLYCINE
INFORMATION
INTESTINAL ABSORPTION
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LIGHT NUCLEI
MAMMALS
MAN
MATERIALS
METABOLISM
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PREGNANCY
PRIMATES
STABLE ISOTOPES
TRACER TECHNIQUES
UPTAKE
VERTEBRATES
WASTES
WOMEN