Development and application of a multi-sugar assay to assess intestinal permeability

Bioanalysis. 2024;16(16):849-861. doi: 10.1080/17576180.2024.2374168. Epub 2024 Jul 18.

Abstract

Aim: Bioanalytical assays to measure rhamnose, erythritol, lactulose and sucralose in human urine and plasma were developed to support an indomethacin challenge study for intestinal permeability assessment in healthy participants.Methods: The multi-sugar assays utilized 5-μl sample matrix and a simple chemical derivatization with acetic anhydride, followed by RPLC-MS/MS detection.Results: Rhamnose and erythritol quantification was established between 1.00-1,000 μg/ml in urine and 250-250,000 ng/ml in plasma. For lactulose and sucralose, dynamic ranges of 0.1-100 μg/ml (urine) and 25-25,000 ng/ml (plasma) were applied for biological measurements.Conclusion: This work helped overcome some of the common analytical challenges associated with the bioanalysis of mono- and disaccharides and achieved improved limits of quantification.

Keywords: LC-MS/MS; ammonium adducts; bioanalysis; carbohydrates; derivatization; saccharides.

Plain language summary

[Box: see text].

MeSH terms

  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Erythritol / analogs & derivatives
  • Erythritol / metabolism
  • Erythritol / urine
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Barrier Function
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Lactulose / urine
  • Permeability*
  • Rhamnose / urine
  • Sucrose / analogs & derivatives
  • Sucrose / urine
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry* / methods

Substances

  • Rhamnose
  • Sucrose
  • Lactulose
  • trichlorosucrose
  • Erythritol