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The use of 13C-labelled glycosyl ureides for evaluation of orocaecal transit time

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 58, pages 568–572 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: In the present study, cellobiose-[13C]ureide and glucose-[13C]ureide were synthesized and tested as alternative substrates for noninvasive evaluation of the orocaecal transit time (OCTT).

Design: Experimental study.

Interventions: In total, 1 g cellobiose-[13C]ureide was administered together with a continental breakfast either without or after predosing of 5 × 1 g unlabelled cellobiose ureide on the day prior to study commencement. After 2 weeks, the same subjects ingested glucose-[13C]ureide (dosage: 0.57 g) either without or after predosing of the respective unlabelled ureide under identical conditions. Expired air samples were taken over 10 h. 13CO2-enrichment was measured by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (PDZ Europa, Sandbach, UK). The OCTT was calculated from the interval between 13C-ureide administration and the detection of a significant and sustained 13C-rise of 2 delta over baseline in breath.

Setting: University of Rostock, Children's Hospital, Research Laboratory.

Subjects: Eight healthy adults aged 22–55 y.

Results: After application of cellobiose-[13C]ureide and glucose-[13C]ureide OCTTs of 401 and 415 min, respectively, were measured. The predosing resulted in higher and steeper 13C-enrichments and caused a significant shortening of OCTTs of 265 and 287 min, respectively (P=0.012 and 0.017).

Conclusions: The onset of 13CO2-enrichment reflected the degradation of glycosyl-[13C]ureides by glucose ureide hydrolase. The predosing with unlabelled ureides prior to pulse labelling with cellobiose-[13C]ureide and glucose-[13C]ureide (the latter is the key substance of the enzymatic sugar-ureide degradation) led to an induction of enzyme activity and resulted in a more precise and similar estimation of the OCTT when using both 13C-labelled ureides.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Children's Hospital, Research Laboratory, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany

    K D Wutzke

  2. Department of Anaesthesia, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany

    B Glasenapp

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  1. K D Wutzke
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  2. B Glasenapp
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Guarantor: KD Wutzke.

Contributor: BG was the principal investigator and doctoral candidate of KDW.

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Correspondence to K D Wutzke.

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Wutzke, K., Glasenapp, B. The use of 13C-labelled glycosyl ureides for evaluation of orocaecal transit time. Eur J Clin Nutr 58, 568–572 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601846

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