Abstract
Objective. The 14C-d-xylose breath test was used at Ullevål University Hospital in the period from 1986 TO 1995 for malabsorption testing. The objective of this retrospective study was to reveal whether patients with chronic alcoholism may have intestinal malabsorption. Materials and methods. The consecutive 14C-d-xylose breath test database was reviewed and patients with the diagnosis of chronic alcoholism were identified. 14C-d-xylose breath test results of the alcoholic patients were compared with the results of untreated celiac patients and patient and healthy controls. In the 14C-d-xylose breath test, 14C-d-xylose was dissolved in water and given orally after overnight fast. Breath samples were taken at 30-min intervals for 210 min, and 14CO2 : 12CO2 ratios were calculated for each time point, presenting a time curve for 14C-d-xylose absorption. Urine was collected after 210 min and the fraction of the total d-xylose passed was calculated (U%). 14CO2 in breath and 14C-d-xylose in urine were analyzed using liquid scintillation. Results. Both breath and urine analysis revealed a pattern of malabsorption in alcoholics comparable with untreated celiac patients, with significantly reduced absorption of d-xylose compared with patient and healthy controls. Conclusion. Alcoholic patients have a significantly reduced 14C-d-xylose absorption, comparable with untreated celiac patients. This indicates a reduced intestinal function in chronic alcoholism.
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Acknowledgments
Haavar Blich Hope was supported by a grant from Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority.
Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.