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Updated: Aug 7, 2026

An Intravital Microscopy-Based Approach to Assess Intestinal Permeability and Epithelial Cell Shedding Performance
07:32

An Intravital Microscopy-Based Approach to Assess Intestinal Permeability and Epithelial Cell Shedding Performance

Published on: December 3, 2020

Intestinal permeability in man: effects of acute systemic infections

M Elia1, C A Northrop-Clewes, P G Lunn

  • 1Dunn Clinical Nutrition Centre, 100 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QL, UK.

Clinical Nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland)
|April 1, 1991
PubMed

Insights

This study found no changes in intestinal permeability in patients with acute infections. However, the lactulose-mannitol test effectively identified enteropathy in coeliac disease patients.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Clinical Medicine
  • Diagnostic Testing

Background:

  • Intestinal permeability is a key indicator of gut health.
  • Assessing changes in intestinal permeability can aid in diagnosing gastrointestinal disorders.
  • Acute infections may potentially affect gut barrier function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate intestinal permeability in patients with acute infections.
  • To compare the results with healthy controls and patients with coeliac disease.
  • To determine the utility of a specific permeability test in infection and enteropathy.

Main Methods:

  • A dual sugar absorption test using lactulose and mannitol was administered orally.
  • Radioactive chromium-51 ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid ((51)Cr-EDTA) was also administered.
  • Urine samples were collected over 24 hours to measure marker excretion.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in marker excretion were observed between infected patients and controls.
  • Coeliac disease patients showed significantly altered lactulose and mannitol excretion compared to controls.
  • Ratios of lactulose:mannitol and (51)Cr-EDTA:mannitol were significantly elevated in coeliac patients.

Conclusions:

  • The lactulose-mannitol and (51)Cr-EDTA test is sensitive for detecting enteropathy, such as in coeliac disease.
  • The study found no evidence of altered intestinal permeability in patients with acute infections under the studied conditions.
  • The findings suggest that systemic infections do not significantly impact intestinal permeability in the short term.

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