Elastase-1 concentration in feces of term and preterm infants aged 0 – 4 months.

Fecal elastase-1 concentration reflects exocrine pancreatic function. There have been some reports from Europe, but so far there has not been a report of fecal elastase-1 concentration in Indonesia, especially concerning infants. The aim of this study is to know the concentration of elastase-1 in feces of infants aged 1-120 days as a preliminary report of the study of the ontogeny of pancreatic elastase-1 in term and preterm infants. Fecal elastase-1 were measured from feces of 28 healthy preterm and 34 healthy term infants up to 120 days (4 month) of age. Elastase-1 concentration in infants less than 14 days of age fluctuated below 200 μg/gram feces. At the first day of life 80% preterm and 60% term infants had elastase-1 concentration less than 200 μg/gram feces, and by the age of 7 days 50% preterm and 33% term infants had elastase-1 concentration less than 200 μg/gram feces. After 14 days of age its concentration was more than 200 μg/gram feces, regardless of gestational age. This preliminary study corroborates supported the previous studies that the level of fecal elastase-1 reached normal level after 14 days. Future longitudinal study is needed to know elastase-1 concentration in infants less than 14 days.

Quantitative analysis of lactose and lactulose in urine by high performance liquid chromatography for determination of intestinal lactase activity.

Determination of intestinal lactase activity is directly done by measuring its activity in intestinal epithelium. This is an invasive method and ethically can not be done in healthy infants. Indirectly, determination of lactase activity, stated as excretion and ingestion ratio of lactose and lactulose, needs 30 hours hospitalized infants. The aim of this study was to look for a method for determination of lactase activity which is not invasive and not necessary hospitalized. Using this method lactose and lactulose were given as a single oral load after 2 hours fasting. Urine were collected for 5 hours starting from consuming sugar solution and then lactose and lactulose concentration in the urine were measured by High Performance Liquid Chromatography. The results showed single oral load of lactose and lactulose can be used for determination of lactase activity in infant and the infants were observed only for 7 hours.