Ali Zarrinpar

Uses Food Dyes to Aid in Diagnosing Conditions Such as Crohn’s and Celiac Disease

This non-invasive and easy-to-use test helps physicians characterize intestinal permeability and integrity through a non-invasive, cost-effective edible dyes. When working properly, the body’s extensive intestinal lining forms a tight barrier that controls what gets absorbed into the bloodstream. Increasing evidence demonstrates that cracks or holes in the intestinal lining contribute to a variety of conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and celiac disease, while decreased permeability can cause malabsorption and subsequent malnutrition. An estimated 11 percent of Americans suffer from some form of a digestive disease . Varieties of tests that treat intestinal barrier integrity loss are available. However, sample collection is complicated, the tests lack sensitivity, or they are expensive. Assessing gut permeability in an easy, cost-effective way is, therefore, an important step to further understand, diagnose, and treat chronic diseases in patients presenting with symptoms.

Researchers at the University of Florida have developed a non-invasive test that measures the integrity of the intestinal barrier. The technology will aid in diagnosing and assessing disease state in patients and reduce the risk of secondary disease. Patients with suspected intestinal diseases can benefit from the procedure.

Application

Non-invasive test measures intestinal integrity to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of suspected intestinal diseases

Advantages

• Non-invasive, cost-effective, accurate, and easy-to-use, providing patients and physicians an efficient way to test for serious conditions
• Gives insight into gut barrier and function loss, contributing to early detection and secondary prevention of disease

Technology

The patient ingests a food dye in a liquid, spray, capsule, or pill form. After 2 hours, a blood draw is tested for the concentration of a non-absorbable, non-digestible compound, such as Brilliant Blue FCF. After comparing the concentration to a standard set, the patient’s intestinal integrity is determined through the amount of dye present in the bloodstream.