Open AccessMeasurement of stool composition in children with celiac disease using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy
Author(s) -
Alujy Suárez Rivero,
F. SánchezValverde,
J. Olivera,
Stefano Merlo
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
anales del sistema sanitario de navarra
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.175
H-Index - 23
eISSN - 2340-3527
pISSN - 1137-6627
DOI - 10.23938/assn.0761
Subject(s) - malabsorption , gastroenterology , malabsorption syndromes , feces , near infrared reflectance spectroscopy , medicine , reflectivity , biology , near infrared spectroscopy , physics , neuroscience , optics , paleontology
Celiac disease is a disorder caused by gluten-sensitivity which, when manifested in its classical digestive form, frequently presents a malabsorption syndrome. The aim of this study is to evaluate the faecal composition in celiac children with malabsorption syndrome at the moment of diagnosis by using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy and to compare it with that of healthy children. Thirty children with biopsy-proven celiac disease and 86 age-matched control children were recruited in our study. Children collected 24 hour faecal specimens and the analyses of faeces, water, fat, nitrogen and sugar were performed using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Results show that celiac children daily eliminate a significantly greater quantity of water, fat, nitrogen and sugar than those in the control group. This might be due to the higher weight of faeces eliminated in the celiac group and, of course, to their celiac condition. Of all the nutrients, faecal fat is the substance which undergoes the greatest change, indicating that this nutrient continues to be the best parameter for dealing with patients with malabsorption syndrome. Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy appears to be a useful tool for assessing stool composition in celiac disease.