From the Guidelines
Impaired liver function will not affect the D-xylose absorption test, as the test measures the intestinal absorption of D-xylose, which does not require liver metabolism 1.
Key Points to Consider
- The D-xylose absorption test is used to evaluate intestinal absorption, not liver function 1.
- Liver impairment does not significantly impact the test results, as D-xylose absorption occurs in the intestine and does not rely on liver metabolism 1.
- In contrast, other conditions such as renal impairment, ascites, and diabetes mellitus may affect the test results due to their impact on kidney function, gastrointestinal absorption, and glucose metabolism 1.
Relevant Details
- The guidelines for monitoring coeliac disease recommend against using the D-xylose breath test or urinary secretion test for absorption evaluation in patients with coeliac disease 1.
- Instead, the guidelines suggest using clinical chemistry analysis of blood count, iron, folate, and other micronutrients to evaluate malabsorption and nutritional status in patients with coeliac disease on a gluten-free diet 1.
From the Research
Conditions Affecting D-xylose Absorption Test
- The D-xylose absorption test can be affected by various conditions, including:
- Renal insufficiency, which increases the apparent elimination half-life of D-xylose and reduces D-xylose renal excretion 2
- Hepatic insufficiency, which may affect D-xylose pharmacokinetics 2
- Obesity, which may influence D-xylose absorption and elimination 2
- Small intestinal malabsorption, which can be detected using the D-xylose absorption test 3, 4
- Chronic renal failure, which reduces the nonrenal clearance of D-xylose and affects its absorption rate 5
Conditions Not Affecting D-xylose Absorption Test
- Sedation with xylazine does not significantly affect the result of a D(+)-xylose absorption test in normal horses 6