title: Cellobiose/mannitol test: physiological properties of probe molecules and influence of extraneous factors.
abstract: The influence of gastric emptying, intestinal transit, renal and hepatic function, and variations in the timing of urine collections, on the cellobiose/mannitol test of intestinal permeability has been studied. None of these extraneous factors influences the cellobiose/mannitol recovery ratio, and there is only a modest effect of renal function on urinary mannitol recovery. Cellobiose is almost totally recovered in the urine within 10 h of intravenous injection, whilst mannitol is less completely recovered, perhaps due to hepatic metabolism. The simultaneous administration of two probe molecules in the cellobiose/mannitol test, and the use of a ratio to express results, thus achieves the desired object of minimising the effect of extraneous factors on the test result. The cellobiose/mannitol test is therefore not subject to the limitations of previous tests of intestinal permeability using orally administered probe molecules, and is widely applicable as a screening test for coeliac disease.
mesh_terms: D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002475:Cellobiose / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D002648:Child; D004187:Disaccharides; D005746:Gastric Emptying; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D008353:Mannitol / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D004187:Disaccharides; D002475:Cellobiose; D008353:Mannitol