Table 4 Means for the assessment of intestinal permeability (functional tests, bacteria-related tests)
From: Intestinal permeability – a new target for disease prevention and therapy
Means | Hu | An | Test molecules | Test site | Material needed | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ex vivo | ||||||
Ussing chamber | x | x | H2O, ions, sugars etc., | site specific | biopsies | invasive |
In vivo – permeability assays | ||||||
Lactulose/mannitol | x | x | oligosaccharides of different MW | small intestine | urine | time consuming |
Sucralose | x | (x) | sucralose(comb.)* | colon | urine | time consuming |
Sucrose | x | (x) | sucrose(comb.)* | stomach | urine | time consuming |
PEG4000/400 | x | (x) | polyethylene glycols | whole intestine | urine | time consuming |
51Cr-EDTA | x | x | 51Cr-EDTA | whole intestine | urine | radio-activity |
In vivo – bacteria-related | ||||||
LAL assay | x | x | endotoxin (LPS) | whole intestine | plasma | assay limitation |
EndoCAb | x | x | anti-LPS antibodies | whole intestine | serum | only in acute phase |
D-lactate | x | x | bacterial lactate | whole intestine | plasma | low specificity |
Butyrate production | x | x | BPB (PCR) | colon | feces | special labs, limited data |
Hemolysin test | x | x | pathogens (cell culture) | colon | feces | special labs, limited data |
Inner colon mucus | x | x | quantification of bacteria | colon | biopsies | invasive,limited standardization |
Liver steatosis | x | x | fat content in the liver | whole intestine | MRT, US | expensive unspecific |
Breath tests | x | x | fat content in the liver | whole intestine | GC/MS | unclear specificity |