Intestinal permeability to 51Cr-labelled ethylenediaminetetraacetate in food-intolerant subjects

Intestinal permeation of 51Cr-labelled ethylenediaminetetraacetate (51Cr-EDTA) was normal in 8 food-intolerant patients. Following ingestion of the offending food stuff there was a significant (p less than 0.003) decrease in the permeation of 51Cr-EDTA but the same phenomenon was observed in control subjects (n = 5) following cereal. Eight patients were tested following ingestion of lentil puree and subsequently with lentil puree containing the food to which they were sensitive. In these patients there was a significant increase in the permeation of 51Cr-EDTA following the 2nd test (p less than 0.01), but this was of insufficient magnitude to be of diagnostic use. These results show that food intolerance does involve some, but not gross changes in intestinal permeability to 51Cr-EDTA.