Effect of age on tests of intestinal and hepatic function in healthy humans.
We studied intestinal function and hepatic microsomal phase I monooxygenase function in healthy, free-living subjects, aged 19-91 yr. In subjects (n = 114) given a diet including 100 g/day of fat, fecal fat in a 72-h collection did not increase with advancing age. D-Xylose excretion (n = 54) following a 25-g oral load significantly declined with increasing age, but a concomitant decline in creatinine clearance suggested a decrease in renal function rather than an absorptive defect. Furthermore, there was no evidence for an age-associated increase in bile salt deconjugation by intestinal bacteria as shown by the glycocholate breath test (n = 60). Finally, there was no evidence for a decrease in hepatic microsomal function with advancing age as measured by the aminopyrine breath test (n = 60). We conclude that digestive/absorptive and hepatic microsomal phase I monooxygenase function are well preserved in healthy humans throughout life.
Arora
S
S
Department of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
Kassarjian
Z
Z
Krasinski
S D
SD
Croffey
B
B
Kaplan
M M
MM
Russell
R M
RM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000632:Aminopyrine; D001944:Breath Tests; D003404:Creatinine / Q000378:metabolism; D005223:Fats / Q000032:analysis; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006000:Glycocholic Acid; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D008297:Male; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D014994:Xylose
D005223:Fats; D000632:Aminopyrine; D014994:Xylose; D003404:Creatinine; D006000:Glycocholic Acid