Table 3.

Relative probe recovery results characterizing gastrointestinal permeability (GIP) of IBS patients vs. healthy controls at various points along the GI tract. IBS patients exhibited significantly elevated colonic permeability compared to healthy controls.

Location	GIP probe	Overall (N = 59)	IBS (n = 20)	Controls (n = 39)	P value
Stomach	Sucrose (%)	0.037 ± 0.040	0.026 ± 0.033	0.043 ± 0.042	NS
Small Intestine	L/M ratio	0.013 ± 0.009	0.012 ± 0.008	0.014 ± 0.009	NS
Colon	Sucralose (%)	7.837 ± 5.427	5.357 ± 2.213	9.109 ± 6.132	0.011*

Data expressed as mean ± one standard deviation. L/M = lactulose-to-mannitol ratio.

^*p < 0.05