D-XYLOSE ABSORPTION TEST IN DIFFERENT ETHNIC-GROUPS

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 31  (1) , 93-97
Abstract
Hospital in-patients (59) in England [UK], Saudi Arabia and Zambia had 5 h urinary xylose measured after a 25 g oral load; in 47 of them blood xylose concentration at 90 min was measured. All were from an urban environment and had no significant organic disease. Similar methods were used in each country. Mean xylose excretion was similar in the English, Asians and Africans. The high incidence of abnormal xylose absorption tests in indigenous populations in tropical countries is due to environmental factors; it does not have a genetic basis.