# Measurement of Oro-Cecal Transit Time in LPS-Treated Pigs Fed High and Low Fiber Diets Using the Lactose-13C-Ureide Test in Breath and Saliva Samples

## TL;DR

Researchers tested a noninvasive method to measure gut transit time in pigs fed different fiber diets and found that the method works well in breath samples and shows fiber can counteract delays caused by inflammation.

## Contribution

The study validates the lactose-13C-ureide breath test for measuring oro-cecal transit time in pigs and explores its response to fiber and inflammation.

## Key findings

- The lactose-13C-ureide breath test effectively measures oro-cecal transit time in pigs.
- High dietary fiber prevents the delay in transit time caused by LPS-induced inflammation.
- Saliva samples can be used for OCTT estimation but require further validation.

## Abstract

The lactose-13C-ureide (L13CU)
test, used
in humans to measure oro-cecal transit time (OCTT) in breath CO2, was assessed for its suitability in pigs as a noninvasive
alternative to intestinal cannulation. The OCTT was determined with
the L13CU test in breath and saliva samples when pigs were
fed low or high dietary fiber (DF) (low fiber, 2.8% DF; high fiber
6.5% DF) diets, and 24 h after an i.m. injection
with either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or NaCl. The OCTT measured in
breath was longer in LF-LPS than in LF-NaCl and HF-LPS groups (3.4
vs 2.9 h; p < 0.05). Additionally, LPS prolonged
the OCTT of pigs, and DF prevented this effect. 90 % of OCTT estimates
measured in saliva and breath CO2 did not differ. We conclude
that the L13CU breath test is useful for determining OCTT
in pigs; saliva is generally suitable as a sample matrix for OCTT,
but its use requires further validation.