Appraisal of the 14C-glycocholate acid test with special reference to the measurement of faecal 14C excretion

Abstract

Normal controls (18), patients with diarrhea not attributable to altered bile acid metabolism (21), patients with diverticula of the small intestine (12), patients with previous resection of ileum and often proximal colon (34), and established ileostomists (10). Patients with diverticular disease had increased breath 14CO2 excretion, and normal fecal excretion of 14C. Ileostomists excreted increased amounts of fecal 14C. The 14C-glycocholate test was more frequently abnormal than the Schilling test in this group. The use of fecal marker correction had only a minor impact on the results. In patients with ileal resection, fecal 14C, like fecal weight, is determined by the extent of colonic resection as well as by the amount of ileum resected.