[Intestinal permeability in Crohn's disease and effects of elemental dietary therapy].

Abstract

Enteral intake of non-metabolic monosacharide and disaccharide, followed by measurement of the urinary excretion ratio of the two, is a method used to investigate intestinal permeability. L/R ratio (lactulose/1-rhamnose urinary excretion ratio) is considered an indicator of permeability of the small intestine. An increased L/R ratio is caused by mucosal disorders of the small intestine. The L/R ratio in all patients (n = 92) with Crohn's disease was 0.079 +/- 0.081 (mean +/- S.D.), which was significantly higher than the value in normal controls (0.027 +/- 0.009, n = 20, p < 0.05). In 39 patients with Crohn's disease, we assessed intestinal permeability before after treatment with an elemental diet, and during remission. The L/R ratio was 0.120 +/- 0.092, before treatment and 0.065 +/- 0.097 after treatment (p < 0.05), showing increased intestinal permeability before elemental dietary treatment. During remission, the L/R ratio was 0.035 +/- 0.028; this did not differ significantly from the value obtained after treatment. We conclude that intestinal permeability is useful for investigating disease activity in patients with Crohn's disease.

• Authors: M Iwata, H Nakano, Y Matsuura, M Nagasaka, M Misawa, S Mizuta, I Ito, T Saito, T Ito, M Hokama, M Kamiya, R Hobara, M Watanabe, K Takahama
• Journal: Nihon Shokakibyo Gakkai zasshi = The Japanese journal of gastro-enterology (Nihon Shokakibyo Gakkai Zasshi) Vol. 98 Issue 6 Pg. 636-43 (Jun 2001) ISSN: 0446-6586 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 11436280 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Gastrointestinal Agents
• Lactulose
• Rhamnose

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Crohn Disease (diet therapy, metabolism)
• Female
• Food, Formulated
• Gastrointestinal Agents (pharmacokinetics)
• Humans
• Intestinal Mucosa (metabolism)
• Lactulose (pharmacokinetics)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Permeability
• Rhamnose (pharmacokinetics)