Related Experiment Videos
Disaccharidase activities in Belgian children: reference intervals and comparison with non-Belgian Caucasian children
1Department of Clinical Biology, Academical Hospital, Free University Brussels, Brussels, Belgium.
Insights
This study establishes reference values for disaccharidase activities in Belgian children, finding them comparable to other Caucasian children. Lower enzyme levels were observed in children with mucosal damage and in non-Belgian children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Digestive Physiology
- Clinical Biochemistry
Background:
- Disaccharidase activities are crucial for carbohydrate digestion.
- Establishing pediatric reference values is essential for diagnosing malabsorption disorders.
- Previous studies have not comprehensively defined these values for Belgian children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine reference ranges for disaccharidase activities (maltase, lactase, sucrase) in Belgian children.
- To compare these enzyme activities with those of non-Belgian Caucasian children.
- To investigate the relationship between disaccharidase levels and jejunal histology.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of endoscopic jejunal biopsies from Belgian children (1994-2000) suspected of malabsorption.
- Classification of patients into groups based on histological findings: normal, moderate changes, and (sub)total atrophy.
- Calculation of 95% reference limits for disaccharidase activities in children with normal histology, excluding those with specific conditions.
- Comparison with data from non-Belgian Caucasian children with normal histology.
Main Results:
- Reference limits for Belgian children were established for maltase, lactase, and sucrase.
- No significant gender-based differences in enzyme activities were observed.
- Disaccharidase activities were significantly lower in children with confirmed mucosal injury compared to those with normal histology.
- Lactase levels showed a slight age-related decrease.
- Non-Belgian children exhibited lower median disaccharidase activities, particularly for lactase, compared to Belgian children.
Conclusions:
- The established reference values for Belgian children align with those reported for other Caucasian populations.
- While enzyme activities are reduced in cases of mucosal damage, they do not reliably differentiate between histological groups.
- Lower lactase levels were noted in the non-Belgian cohort, suggesting potential population-specific variations.
Aim:
To establish reference values for disaccharidase activities in Belgian children and to compare enzyme activities with those of non-Belgian Caucasian children.
Methods:
Data from Belgian children who had undergone endoscopic jejunal biopsies (1994-2000) for suspected malabsorption were reviewed. The patients were divided into three groups based on histology: (A) normal (n = 201), (B) moderate changes (n = 58) and (C) (sub)total atrophy (n = 14). The 95% reference limits for disaccharidase activities (U/g protein) were calculated for group A after exclusion of patients with a positive hydrogen breath test, a history of lactose intolerance or coeliac disease (final population: n = 151, 0.1-12 y). Values were compared with those of 34 non-Belgian Caucasian children with normal histology (28 of Mediterranean origin).
Results:
The reference limits (90% confidence interval) were 86 (65-111)-423 (366-494) for maltase, 9 (6-12)-91 (78-122) for lactase and 24 (18-30)-155 (120-184) for sucrase. No gender-related differences in enzyme activities were found. Lactase levels showed a slight decrease with increasing age. Disaccharidase activities of children with histologically confirmed mucosal injury were significantly lower than those of children with normal histology: median values for groups A, B and C were 208, 181 and 96, respectively, for maltase, 40, 28 and 7, respectively, for lactase and 69, 54 and 25, respectively, for sucrase. Median disaccharidase activities in biopsies with normal histology were lower in non-Belgian children, the difference being only statistically significant for lactase, 33 versus 40.
Conclusion:
The reference values for Belgian children are well in line with other reported values from Caucasian children. Although enzyme activities are lower in children with histologically confirmed mucosal damage, they do not allow differentiation between histology groups. Lower lactase values were found in non-Belgian children.