title: Ability to digest starch assessed noninvasively with a 13CO2 breath test - comparison of results obtained in two groups of different age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We evaluated the effect of age on the results of a cornflakes breath test that determines the efficiency of starch digestion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two groups of 12 fasted healthy subjects (group Y, 24.7+/-0.6 years; and group MA, 49.7+/-1.3 years) consumed a 521-kcal test breakfast of 100 g cornflakes naturally abundant in 13C (-14.00 per thousand 13C enrichment relative to the Vienna Pee Dee belemnite standard). Then, the 13CO2 concentration was measured in samples of exhaled air collected over 9 hours.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We noted a maximum momentary 13CO2 breath excretion of 7.54+/-0.19% dose/h at 298 +/- 15 minutes in group Y and 7.70+/-0.27% dose/h at 305+/-10 minutes in group MA. The group curves of the cumulative 13C recovery in breath air exhibited a virtually overlapping time course. The 6-hour cumulative 13C recovery was 29.33+/-0.70%dose in group Y and 29.87+/-1.18%dose in group MA. Extending the collection period from 6 to 9 hours produced an increase in the cumulative 13C recovery of 58.4+/-2.1%. The 9-hour cumulative 13C recovery was 46.58+/-1.04%dose in the Y group and 46.93+/-1.84%dose and the MA group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An age difference of more than 2 decades was not associated with a negative impact on the in vivo ability to digest starch. The reference values of the cornflakes breath test can be derived from healthy subjects in a relatively wide age range.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Biomedical Science, School of Pharmacy, Medical University of Silesia, Sosnowiec, Poland. kjonderko@sum.edu.pl
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jonderko
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spinková
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamińska
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kasicka-Jonderko
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Błońska-Fajfrowska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002523:Edible Grain; D045853:Exhalation; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013213:Starch / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D013213:Starch