title: Nonabsorbable marker and single, random stool samples used for measuring intestinal absorption of macronutrients in infants and children.
abstract: To measure intestinal absorption by using a single, random stool sample, polyethylene glycol (PEG), 1 g/d, and a constant diet were given to healthy infants, with a constant PEG-to-macronutrient ratio. After 10 d equilibration, apparent intestinal absorption of macronutrients was estimated from a standard 3-d metabolic balance and compared with that estimated by using the ratio of PEG to macronutrients in a single random sample of feces. Correlation coefficients for this comparison were 0.649, 0.715, and 0.924 for nitrogen, carbohydrate, and fat, respectively. Additionally, apparent intestinal absorptions estimated from two separate consecutive 3-d metabolic-balance studies were compared, showing correlation coefficients of 0.106, 0.653, and 0.463 for nitrogen, carbohydrate, and fat, respectively. The random sample-marker technique appears to be acceptable for measuring apparent absorption of macronutrients and is at least as accurate as a standard 3-d metabolic-balance study.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigacion Nutricional, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Saavedra
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000378:metabolism*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D008297:Male; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D009584:Nitrogen