(13)C-octanoic acid breath test (OBT) with a new test meal (EXPIROGer): Toward standardization for testing gastric emptying of solids.
BACKGROUND
Standardization of the (13)C-octanoic acid breath test is still lacking.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the accuracy of the (13)C-octanoic acid breath test using a new standardized ready-to-eat, gluten-, glucose-, and lactose-free muffin.


METHODS
Healthy subjects were recruited and sorted by sex and age. Patients with diabetic gastroparesis and untreated celiac disease with known gastric motility disorders were also tested with the new labelled muffin. Expired breath (13)CO(2) was analysed and t(1/2) was calculated.


RESULTS
Overall, 131 healthy subjects were enrolled. The reference range of t(1/2) was 88+/-29min with the value of 146min as the upper limit of normal range. No significant difference in t(1/2) was found among subjects sorted by sex or age. The within-subject variability of t(1/2) was 17%. Mean (+/-standard deviation) t(1/2) values were 179+/-50min in patients with diabetic gastroparesis (n=8) and 151+/-20min in those with untreated celiac disease (n=11) (p<or=0.001 vs controls).


CONCLUSIONS
A new standardized test meal simplifies the execution of the (13)C-octanoic acid breath test, is not influenced by sex or age, has low intra-individual variability, is palatable, does not cause side effects, and is able to evaluate gastric emptying in both patients and healthy controls. Moreover, it can be used in subjects with lactose intolerance, diabetes, and celiac disease.
Perri
Francesco
F
Division of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, "Madonna del Soccorso" Hospital, San Benedetto del Tronto (AP), Italy. fp.perri@libero.it
Bellini
Massimo
M
Portincasa
Piero
P
Parodi
Andrea
A
Bonazzi
Patrizia
P
Marzio
Leonardo
L
Galeazzi
Francesca
F
Usai
Paolo
P
Citrino
Attilio
A
Usai-Satta
Paolo
P
D000328:Adult; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods*; D002210:Caprylates; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D003938:Diagnostic Techniques, Digestive System / Q000592:standards; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D005746:Gastric Emptying; D018589:Gastroparesis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D002210:Caprylates; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; C031492:octanoic acid