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A new approach to characterize whole-gut transit in infants with use of a nonabsorbable intestinal marker
J M Saavedra1, K H Brown, J Nakashima
1Instituto de Investigacion Nutricional, Lima.
Insights
This study measured intestinal transit in infants using polyethylene glycol (PEG). Results show PEG excretion follows predictable kinetics, enabling better characterization of gut transit times.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Pharmacokinetics
- Digestive System Physiology
Background:
- Accurate measurement of intestinal transit time is crucial for understanding infant digestive health.
- Existing methods for assessing gut transit in infants have limitations.
- Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a non-absorbable marker suitable for transit studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize mouth to anus intestinal transit in healthy infants.
- To establish pharmacokinetic parameters for PEG as an intestinal marker.
- To propose new metrics for expressing whole-gut transit.
Main Methods:
- 11 healthy infants received polyethylene glycol (PEG) as an intestinal marker.
- Daily fecal collections were analyzed for PEG concentration over 9-15 days.
- Fecal PEG excretion kinetics were analyzed to determine half-life (t1/2) and volume of distribution (Vd).
Main Results:
- Fecal PEG excretion followed first-order kinetics in all infants.
- The half-life (t1/2) of PEG in the gut was determined to be 0.99 ± 0.48 days.
- The volume of distribution (Vd) for PEG in the gut was calculated as 18.74 ± 15.38 g of fecal dry weight.
Conclusions:
- Whole-gut transit in infants can be characterized by PEG's half-life (t1/2) and volume of distribution (Vd).
- These parameters offer a more precise method for assessing intestinal transit.
- The proposed metrics may help in understanding changes in gut transit related to disease or diet.
Abstract:
To characterize mouth to anus transit of intestinal contents, polyethylene glycol (PEG) was given as an intestinal marker to 11 healthy infants, and daily fecal collections were analyzed for PEG concentration per unit of dry stool weight for 9-15 d. Fecal PEG excretion followed first-order kinetics. Thus, half-life (t1/2) and volume of distribution (Vd) of PEG in the gut could be computed for each of seven infants who received continuous daily PEG doses and t1/2 only for four infants who received a single PEG dose. t1/2 of PEG in the gut was 0.99 +/- 0.48 d (means +/- SD). Vd for PEG in the gut was 18.74 +/- 15.38 g of fecal dry weight. We propose that whole-gut transit be expressed in terms of t1/2 and Vd of intestinal contents because these may better characterize the changes in intestinal transit that occur with disease or dietary modifications.