Taurine decreases fecal fatty acid and sterol excretion in cystic fibrosis: a randomized double-blind trial

Article Abstract:

Cystic fibrosis involves abnormal secretion in many organs; increased secretion of mucus in the lungs and inadequate secretion of enzymes in the pancreas are among the major problems experienced by children with this genetic disorder. Research has shown that pulmonary disease, pancreatic insufficiency, and nutrition are interdependent in these children. Thus, nutritional supplements and the best possible correction of digestion and absorption of nutrients is being emphasized. Despite using supplements of pancreatic enzymes, some of which are needed to break down dietary fats, almost one-fourth of a group of patients with cystic fibrosis had steatorrhea (fatty stools), indicating that correction of intestinal absorption of foodstuffs was still deficient. It is possible that alterations in the types of bile acids are related to the loss of the fatty bile acids in the feces and could contribute to abnormal absorption. Some bile acids contain taurine (an amino acid or protein building block with specialized functions), which is particularly susceptible to intestinal loss. The effect of taurine supplements on fat malabsorption in 13 children (7 female and 6 male) with cystic fibrosis was evaluated and compared with that of placebo treatment. The number and consistency of stools improved, while abdominal pain ceased in four children. Two patients given placebo reportedly improved. Growth and lung function were apparently unaffected by treatment with taurine. Fat absorption improved significantly, and fatty acid excretion decreased in 12 taurine-treated patients. Saturated fatty acids were chiefly affected, and vitamin A levels and other fats indicative of essential fatty acid deficiency did not improve. Fatty acid malabsorption correlated significantly with bile acid loss. The results suggest that taurine is an effective supplement for treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis-associated steatorrhea. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Complications and side effects, Drug therapy, Celiac disease, Cystic fibrosis, Taurine

---

Breath hydrogen excretion in the premature neonate

Article Abstract:

Testing exhaled air for hydrogen has been used to diagnose malabsorption and bacterial overgrowth syndromes of the intestines. This test has been reported to indicate the possible onset of clinical necrotizing enterocolitis, an acute inflammatory intestinal disorder of premature babies, which may lead to perforation of the gut or inflammation of the peritoneal lining of the abdomen. There are no reports of daily testing on large numbers of healthy premature babies. The breath hydrogen excretion was measured in 103 babies from birth up to 2 months of age. All babies weighed less than 2,000 grams (4 lbs., 6 oz.) at birth. Hydrogen production in the intestines is highly correlated in adults with the amount of hydrogen exhaled. The results of this study indicate a similar mechanism is present in infants. Hydrogen secretion was not begun until a few days after feeding was begun. This delay was because both bacteria and fermentable substances must be present in the gut for fermentation to occur, and therefore for hydrogen to be produced, and this time was required for these elements to accumulate in the newborn's intestinal tract. The results indicated a relationship between feedings and breath hydrogen excretion. The study establishes hydrogen excretion standards for the healthy premature newborn. These standards should assist in further studies of the development and physiology of the newborn intestinal tract and in the study of malabsorption. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Analysis, Measurement, Infants (Premature), Premature infants, Respiration, Hydrogen, Breath tests

---

Reliability of information on physical activity and other chronic disease risk factors among US women aged 40 years or older

Article Abstract:

A test-retest health study of US women has been carried out. Minimum age for the subjects was 40, and they were white, Hispanic, black or American Indian/Alaska Native. Data on chronic disease risk behaviors and related variables, including barriers to and attitudes toward physical activity are scarce for women of some racial/ethnic groups. A modified version of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance system methods was used to select the sample and conduct interviews. For behavioral risk factors, smoking, physical inactivity, and low fruit/vegetable consumption, group prevalences were generally similar in the first and second interviews. Discordance was low for variables on cigarette smoking and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Discordance was high for low consumption of fruits/vegetables. Measures of agreement were varied over groups for other variables for access to and for barriers to exercise. The methods show an efficient way to sample and measure reliability of data coming from women of minority groups.

United States, Methods, Planning, Evaluation, Women, Risk factors, Chronic diseases, Exercise, Science, Women's health, Scientific method, Health surveys, Ethnic groups, Epidemiological research, Cross sectional studies, Information storage and retrieval systems, Medical statistics, Statistics (Mathematics), Demographic surveys

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Differences in expression of cystic fibrosis in blacks and whites. Effect of pancreatic enzyme supplements on iron absorption
• Abstracts: Labor induction with continuous low-dose oxytocin infusion: a randomized trial. Efficacy of different starting doses of oxytocin for induction of labor
• Abstracts: Evaluation of a taurine containing amino acid solution in parenteral nutrition. Early parenteral feeding of amino acids
• Abstracts: Vaccine-preventable diseases and medical personnel. Protecting tomorrow's health care professionals against hepatitis B virus today
• Abstracts: The incidence and significance of thromboembolic complications in patients with high-grade gliomas. Interstitial radiogold implantation for the treatment of recurrent high-grade gliomas

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.