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Journal of Clinical Pathology logoLink to Journal of Clinical Pathology
. 1977 Jan;30(1):76–80. doi: 10.1136/jcp.30.1.76

The 15 g D-xylose absorption test: its application to the study of coeliac disease.

F M Stevens, D W Watt, M A Bourke, B McNicholl, P F Fottrell, C F McCarthy
PMCID: PMC476650  PMID: 320232

Abstract

The absorption of xylose following an oral load of 15 g D-xylose has been studied by serial blood levels in 17 untreated adult coeliac patients, 21 treated coeliac patients, and 30 non-coeliac patients. A statistically significant difference in xylose blood levels was found between untreated coeliac and non-coeliac patients at all the times studied, but a complete separation between these two groups occurred only at the 75 minute stage. The reproducibility of absorption was assessed by repeating the test in 16 subjects. The 95% confidence limits of the standard error of estimate are narrowest at 75 and 90 minutes.

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Selected References

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