Gastric emptying of solids in children: reference values for the 13C-octanoic acid breath test

Background(99m)Technetium scintigraphy ((TS)-T-99m) is the gold standard' for measuring gastric emptying (GE), but it is associated with a radiation exposure. For this reason, the C-13-octanoic acid breath test (C-13-OBT) was developed for measuring GE of solids. The objective of this study was to determine normal values for gastric half-emptying time (t(1/2)GE) of solids in healthy children. MethodsGastric emptying of a standardized solid test meal consisting of a pancake evaluated with (TS)-T-99m and C-13-OBT was compared in 22 children aged between 1 and 15 years with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Subsequently, the C-13-OBT was used to determine normal values for GE of the same solid test meal in 120 healthy children aged between 1 and 17 years. Key ResultsThe results showed a significant correlation (r = 0.748, p = 0.0001) between t(1/2)GE measured with both techniques in the group of children with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. In the group of healthy children, mean t(1/2)GE was 157.7 54.0 min (range 71-415 min), but t(1/2)GE decreased with age between 1 and 10 years and remained stable afterward. There was no influence of gender, weight, height, body mass index, and body surface area on t(1/2)GE. Conclusions & InferencesNormal values for GE of solids measured with the C-13-OBT using a standardized methodology were determined in healthy children. We propose to use this method and corresponding reference ranges to study GE of solids in children with gastrointestinal problems.