Reverse isotope dilution assay and lactose intolerance assay
AssigneeMetabolic Solutions, Inc.
InventorDavid A. Wagner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A “reverse isotope dilution assay” herein, wherein a pathway that produces a given metabolite is assayed by diluting a labelled metabolite produced by a second constitutive pathway. In one aspect, the invention relates to a method for monitoring lactose maldigestion or lactose intolerance in humans. Specifically, the method requires administering a reverse tracer of labeled glucose and unlabeled lactose to an individual and assessing labeled carbon dioxide in breath or blood. If the lactose is digested, the labeled CO2 produced by the labeled glucose is diluted by the metabolism of the lactose.
Claims20
A method of assaying enzyme activity in a subject, said method comprising:
- a) administering to a subject an effective amount of a reverse tracer, wherein said reverse tracer is a labeled molecule that is constitutively metabolized by the subject to produce a labeled metabolite;
- b) administering to said subject an effective amount of an unlabeled substrate, wherein said substrate is specifically metabolized by an enzyme to be assayed and wherein said substrate is metabolized by said enzyme to produce an unlabeled metabolite that is the same as the metabolite from step a);
- c) collecting a specimen from said subject;
- and
- d) measuring the amount of labeled metabolite in said specimen to determine the activity of said enzyme in said subject.
A method of assessing metabolic dysfunction in a subject comprising the steps of:
- a) administering to a subject an effective amount of a reverse tracer, wherein said reverse tracer is a labeled molecule that is constitutively metabolized by the subject to produce a labeled metabolite;
- b) administering to said subject an effective amount of an unlabeled substrate, wherein said substrate is specifically metabolized by an enzyzme to be assayed and wherein said substrate is metabolized by said enzyme to produce an unlabeled metabolite that is the same as the metabolite from step a);
- c) collecting a specimen from said subject;
- and
- d) measuring the amount of labeled metabolite in said specimen;
- e) comparing the amount of labeled metabolite in said specimen to a standard where deviation from the standard indicates the metabolic dysfunction in said subject, wherein said standard is the mean amount of labelled metabolite produced by a control population of healthy subjects.
A method of assessing lactose intolerance, said method comprising:
- a) administering to a subject an effective amount of a reverse tracer, wherein said reverse tracer is a labeled molecule that is constitutively metabolized by the subject to produce labeled carbon dioxide;
- b) administering to said subject an effective amount of unlabeled lactose;
- c) collecting a specimen from said subject;
- and
- d) measuring the amount of labeled carbon dioxide in said specimen;
- e) comparing the amount of labeled carbon dioxide in said specimen to a standard where deviation from the standard indicates the degree of lactose intolerance in said subject, wherein said standard is the mean amount of labeled carbon dioxide produced by a control population of healthy subjects.
A kit for the detection of lactose intolerance, said kit comprising a sample of labeled reverse tracer molecule, a sample of lactose, and optionally, a breath collection device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.