Biomaterial Database

A simple spectrophotometric method for quantitative fecal carbohydrate measurement. 1985

V Z Ameen, and G K Powell

A simple quantitative assay was developed for measuring total fecal carbohydrate (CHO) excretion using stools obtained during balance studies performed for fecal fat determination. This spectrophotometric method utilizes Dreywood's anthrone reagent which reacts with equal weights of CHO whether monosaccharide or polysaccharide. Analysis of known dietary CHO solutions yielded greater than 90% of the known theoretical concentration. Recovery of CHO (Polycose) added to fresh stool was greater than 95%, inter-assay coefficient of variation (CV) 6.2%. Stool specimens stored frozen and analyzed over a 21-month period yielded stable results. Fecal CHO excretion/day determined in 32 normal patients, ages 1 month to 13 years, on diets with varying CHO sources, ranged from 0.04 to 0.85 g, average 0.33 g, SD +/- 0.24. Three patients with diseases known to be associated with CHO malabsorption studied showed markedly increased total fecal CHO excretion, up to 53% of their CHO intake. Quantitative fecal CHO excretion in these patients allowed for assessment of the severity of their disease and provided a means for evaluating the use of different dietary CHO sources in their management.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007223	Infant	A child between 1 and 23 months of age.	Infants
D002239	Carbohydrate Metabolism, Inborn Errors	Dysfunctions of CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM resulting from inborn genetic mutations that are inherited or acquired in utero.	Carbohydrate Metabolism, Inborn Error
D002241	Carbohydrates	A class of organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a ratio of Cn(H2O)n. The largest class of organic compounds, including STARCH; GLYCOGEN; CELLULOSE; POLYSACCHARIDES; and simple MONOSACCHARIDES.	Carbohydrate
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D004040	Dietary Carbohydrates	Carbohydrates present in food comprising digestible sugars and starches and indigestible cellulose and other dietary fibers. The former are the major source of energy. The sugars are in beet and cane sugar, fruits, honey, sweet corn, corn syrup, milk and milk products, etc.; the starches are in cereal grains, legumes (FABACEAE), tubers, etc. (From Claudio & Lagua, Nutrition and Diet Therapy Dictionary, 3d ed, p32, p277)	Carbohydrates, Dietary,Carbohydrate, Dietary,Dietary Carbohydrate
D005243	Feces	Excrement from the INTESTINES, containing unabsorbed solids, waste products, secretions, and BACTERIA of the DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293	Adolescent	A person 13 to 18 years of age.	Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D013053	Spectrophotometry	The art or process of comparing photometrically the relative intensities of the light in different parts of the spectrum.