These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Variations in faecal bacterial enzyme activities and associations with bowel function and diet in elderly subjects.
    Author: Mykkänen H, Laiho K, Salminen S.
    Journal: J Appl Microbiol; 1998 Jul; 85(1):37-41. PubMed ID: 9721654.
    Abstract:
    Daily and inter-individual variations of faecal bacterial beta-glucuronidase and beta-glucosidase activities and their associations with parameters of bowel function were studied in 10 residents of an old people's home during two 1-week periods 2 weeks apart. The effect of sampling method (a spot sample vs an aliquot of the homogenized sample from a total daily collection) on the activities of these enzymes and that of urease was also assessed. Intestinal transit time was determined using the radio-opaque Sitzmark; capsules, and questionnaires on bowel function and intakes of fluids and fibre-containing foods were completed. The mean (95% confidence interval) beta-glucuronidase and beta-glucosidase levels were 3.08 (2.75-3.41) and 11.53 (10.79-12.26) nmol min-1 mg protein-1. Daily variations in enzyme activities within individuals were not significant (P = 0.277 and 0.990, respectively), whilst those between individuals were highly significant (P = 0.000). Faecal frequency correlated negatively with beta-glucuronidase and urease, but no other associations of the enzyme activities with parameters of bowel function and diet were observed. beta-Glucuronidase and beta-glucosidase were not affected by the sampling method, while significantly higher urease was obtained by spot sampling as compared with the aliquot representing the total daily collection. Large inter-individual variations in faecal enzyme activities should be taken into consideration when planning experiments and interpreting results on these faecal parameters.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]