The Use of Y91 as an Inert Indicator in Intestinal Absorption Tests

Abstract

SummaryIn this paper is reported the use of Y91 as an inert-indicator in the studies of the intestinal absorption of I131-labelled substances, emphasis being given to its clinical advantages.The Y91 is not absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, since recovery in the faeces in 22 cases was 96 ± 6.7% (S.D.) of the amount given.The Y91 and the I131-labelled substances are homogenously distributed throughout any given stool sample but their rate of excretion is not always parallel.A close correlation was found between the amount of I131 excreted as obtained from the complete faecal collection method and that of Y91-indicator method in a group of 20 subjects under special supervision.The value of the Y91 inert-indicator method where the completeness of the stool collection is doubtful is shown in 23 cases.

Effect of Fortification of Drinking Water with Iron plus Ascorbic Acid or with Ascorbic Acid Alone on Hemoglobin Values and Anthropometric Indicators in Preschool Children in Day-Care Centers in Southeast Brazil

“…However, there were doubts about the role of ascorbic acid in those results because the comparison groups in that study received only unfortified water. The results obtained in the previous study might have been due to the sum of the increased iron and ascorbic acid ingestion, since the role of ascorbic acid as a facilitator of non-heme iron absorption is well recognized [14][15][16][17].…”

“…Indeed, many studies conducted in the 1970s and 1980s had already demonstrated the possibility of improving iron nutriture by adding sources of ascorbic acid such as fruit [14], fruit juices [14,17], fortified drinks [15], and vegetables [16] to the usual diet. However, the advantage of the present study was the use of drinking water as a vehicle.…”

“…These studies used ascorbic acid mainly to keep iron in solution for a longer time, thus preserving the organoleptic properties of water [13]. The fact that ascorbic acid acts by facilitating the absorption of both iron added to water and non-heme iron from other ingested foods [14][15][16][17] has led investigators to consider the possibility that the good results obtained in other studies may be related not only to iron, but also to ascorbic acid.…”