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Intestinal permeability changes and excretion of micro-organisms in stools of infants with diarrhoea and vomiting
Insights
Infant gut health is linked to intestinal permeability and microbial excretion. Higher permeability correlated with gastrointestinal symptoms and stool microorganisms, suggesting potential mucosal damage.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Microbiology
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Infants in deprived urban areas face unique health challenges.
- Gastrointestinal symptoms in infants warrant investigation into underlying causes.
- Intestinal permeability is a key indicator of gut health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms, stool microorganisms, and intestinal permeability in infants.
- To assess if increased intestinal permeability is associated with microbial presence and symptoms.
- To explore potential mucosal damage as a cause of altered gut function.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 20 infants from birth to 6 months.
- Measurement of intestinal permeability using lactulose-to-mannitol urine ratio.
- Monitoring of stool microorganism excretion and gastrointestinal symptoms.
Main Results:
- Microorganism excretion occurred with and without symptoms.
- Infants with symptoms and stool microorganisms showed significantly higher intestinal permeability.
- A correlation was observed between symptoms, microbial presence, and gut permeability.
Conclusions:
- Increased intestinal permeability in infants may indicate mucosal damage.
- Stool microorganisms and gastrointestinal symptoms are associated with altered gut permeability.
- Early life gut health in urban infants requires further study.
Abstract:
The relation between diarrhoea and vomiting, the excretion of stool micro-organisms, and the passive intestinal permeability in 20 infants living in a deprived urban area was studied prospectively from birth to age 6 months. Intestinal permeability was measured from the ratio of lactulose to mannitol recovered in the urine of infants receiving feeds containing both markers. Micro-organism excretion was found to occur in both the presence and absence of gastrointestinal symptoms, but a significantly higher mean intestinal permeability was recorded in those infants with symptoms and organisms in the stool than in those with neither. An increased intestinal permeability may be a sign of mucosal damage by intestinal micro-organisms.