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Gastrointestinal handling of glycosyl [13C]ureides

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 57, pages 1017–1024 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Objectives: Lactose [13C]ureide has been proposed as a noninvasive marker for oro-caecal transit time in adults and children. The present study investigates the handling of lactose [13C]ureide (13C LU) and glucose [13C]ureide (13C GU) by the gastrointestinal tract and describes the metabolic fates of these substrates and describes the extent of tracer excretion by different routes.

Study Design and Subjects: Four subjects underwent five studies in which they ingested a test meal plus (1) no substrate, (2) 13C LU, (3) 13C GU, (4) 13C LU after predosing with unlabelled lactose ureide and (5) 13C LU after predosing with glucose ureide. Subjects were studied at home with at least 1 week between tests and they all completed the study. Breath was analysed for 13CO2 recovery and urine was analysed for total 13C recovery, 13C urea recovery and 13C GU recovery.

Results: The profiles and extent of tracer recovery in breath and urine were similar when either 13C GU or 13C LU was used, suggesting similar handling of these substrates by the gut. 13C GU was the major 13C-enriched species recovered in the urine even when 13C LU was consumed. Predosing with either lactose ureide or glucose ureide increased the rate of appearance of tracer, but did not alter transit times.

Conclusions: 13C LU is hydrolysed to 13C GU in the small intestine with the fraction of 13C GU appearing in the urine probably limited by small intestinal permeability. Either 13C LU or 13C GU can be used to measure oro-caecal transit time.

Sponsorship: Bell College, Hamilton and Chief Scientist Office, Scotland, UK.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Child Health, University of Glasgow, Yorkhill Hospitals, Glasgow, G3 8SJ, UK

    D J Morrison & L T Weaver

  2. School of Science and Technology, Bell College, Hamilton, ML3 0JB, UK

    B Dodson

  3. SUERC, Rankine Avenue, East Kilbride, G75 0QF, UK

    T Preston

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  1. D J Morrison
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  2. B Dodson
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  3. T Preston
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  4. L T Weaver
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Contributions

Guarantor: DJ Morrison.

Contributors: DJM was involved in the design of the study, carried out all analyses involved and is the main author of the manuscript. BD was involved in the design of the study, advised on chemical synthesis and analyses and contributed to the development of the manuscript. TP was involved in the design of the study, advised on isotopic analyses and contributed to the development of the manuscript. LTW was involved in the design of the study, advised on the study protocols and contributed to the development of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to D J Morrison.

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Morrison, D., Dodson, B., Preston, T. et al. Gastrointestinal handling of glycosyl [13C]ureides. Eur J Clin Nutr 57, 1017–1024 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601637

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