Objective: To assess the intestinal barrier function of patients with advanced digestive tract malignant tumors by measuring the changes in intestinal permeability.
Methods: Sixteen patients with digestive tract tumors and 16 healthy volunteers were enrolled. After oral administration of mannitol and lactulose in deionized water, the 6-hour urine samples were collected for analyzing mannitol and lactulose concentrations using gas-liquid chromatography.
Results: Urine lactulose concentration and lactulose/mannitol (L/M) ratio of the tumor patients were increased in comparison with those of the healthy subjects (P<0.05).
Conclusion: he intestinal permeability increased in these tumor patients, indicating intestinal barrier dysfunction.