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[Tryptic and chymotryptic activity in the faeces of children of different age groups (author's transl)]
Insights
Fecal tryptic and chymotryptic enzyme activity measurements are reliable in children, unaffected by gut bacteria. Tryptic activity varies with age, unlike chymotryptic activity.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Enzymology
Context:
- Accurate measurement of digestive enzyme activity in pediatric fecal samples is crucial for assessing gastrointestinal health.
- Bacterial proteolytic activity can interfere with the accurate quantification of host-derived enzymes like trypsin and chymotrypsin.
- Understanding normal enzyme activity ranges and variations is essential for diagnosing pediatric digestive disorders.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the reliability of measuring fecal tryptic and chymotryptic activity in children.
- To determine the influence of bacterial proteases on these measurements.
- To investigate age-related differences and daily fluctuations in enzyme activity.
Summary:
- Fecal tryptic and chymotryptic activity measurements are not significantly affected by common gut bacteria (Proteus, Pseudomonas, E. coli, Enterococci, Bacteroides).
- Both enzyme activities exhibit a logarithmic normal distribution, with wide standard deviations (tryptic: 51-129%, chymotryptic: 60-170%).
- While chymotryptic activity showed no age-related differences in 157 healthy children across 10 age groups, tryptic activity was significantly lower in premature infants compared to older children.
- Daily fluctuations in enzyme activity are substantial in individuals but reduced in "bottle-fed" infants due to consistent nutrition.
- Chymotryptic activity predominates in premature and very young infants, with tryptic activity becoming more prominent later.
- Bowel dysfunction (increased/decreased movements) did not alter enzyme activity beyond standard deviations, but passage time and nutrition are critical factors influencing the wide distribution and limiting the method's precision.
Impact:
- Establishes the validity of fecal tryptic and chymotryptic activity assays in pediatric populations, despite potential bacterial interference.
- Highlights significant age-related differences in tryptic activity, suggesting its utility in assessing pancreatic function in premature infants.
- Identifies key factors (passage time, nutrition) that influence enzyme activity variability, guiding future research and clinical interpretation.
Abstract:
Measurement of tryptic and chymotryptic activity in the faeces was not disturbed by bacterial proteolytic activity of different bacteria such as proteus, pseudomonas, coli, enterococci, bacteroides. Both activities within a group follow a logarithmic normal distribution. Lower limit of the standard deviation is 51% upper limit 129% for tryptic activity, respectively 60 and 170% for chymotryptic activity. There were no differences in chymotryptic activity between the 10 age groups comprising 157 healthy children, whereas a significant difference could be found for tryptic activity between premature and older children. Daily fluctuations of the enzyme activities are quite high in the same individual, and only reduced in "bottlefed" infants with constant nutrition. In prematures and very young infants chymotryptic activity predominates, later tryptic activity. Influence of increased and decreased bowel movements on deviation of the data was tested. There was, however, no real alteration of enzyme activity due to the bowel dysfunction beyond the standard deviation of the control groups. But passage time and nutrition have to be considered beside other factors in the wide distribution of the enzyme activities and the latter limits the value of this method.