Related Experiment Videos
Fecal polyamine concentration in children with and without nutrient malabsorption
P Forget1, M Sinaasappel, J Bouquet
1Department of Pediatrics, AZM Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
|March 1, 1997
Summary
Children with malabsorption have significantly higher fecal concentrations of putrescine and cadaverine. These findings suggest that polyamines may play a crucial role in intestinal adaptation and malabsorption conditions.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Human Physiology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Fermentation products of malabsorbed nutrients are implicated in intestinal adaptation.
- Polyamines, such as putrescine and cadaverine, are hypothesized to be key fermentation products.
- Limited data exists on human fecal polyamine content.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare fecal polyamine concentrations in children with and without malabsorption.
- To investigate the role of fecal polyamines in malabsorption.
Main Methods:
- Compared 16 children with malabsorption (cystic fibrosis, short bowel syndrome, biliary atresia) to 17 healthy children.
- Analyzed 3-day fecal collections for fat and polyamine concentrations using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).
Main Results:
- Children with malabsorption exhibited significantly higher fecal cadaverine (3723 vs 114 µmol/kg) and putrescine (4737 vs 306 µmol/kg) concentrations compared to controls (p < 0.007 and p < 0.00001, respectively).
- Fecal fat excretion was markedly higher in the malabsorption group (13.4 g/day) than in the control group (1.5 g/day).
- No significant differences in fecal spermine or spermidine concentrations were observed between groups.
Conclusions:
- Children experiencing malabsorption present with substantially elevated fecal putrescine and cadaverine levels.
- These results provide evidence supporting the hypothesis that fecal polyamines are significant in malabsorption.