Date of Publication:2009-01-01

Journal:世界华人消化杂志

Issue:27

Page Number:2821-2824

ISSN:1009-3079

Abstract:AIM: To investigate whether ammonia-removing microemulsion (ARM) can specifically remove ammonia from artificial colonic fluid and explore the potential role of ARM in the prevention and treatment of hepatic encephalopathy. METHODS: ARM was mixed with artificial colonic fluid containing different concentrations of ammonia for ten hours. Meanwhile, ARM was successively mixed with artificial gastric juice for 2 h, artificial small intestinal juice for 3 h and artificial colonic fluid for 10 h to mimic gastrointestinal transit and pH environment. Ammonia concentrations in the fluid were then measured using a standard technique, and the ammonia removal rate was calculated. The ammonia removal efficiency achieved using ARM was compared with that achieved using empty microemulsion, water and lactulose. RESULTS: After mixing with ARM, the ammonia concentrations decreased to 0 g/L in the artificial colonic fluid initially containing 5 g/L or 10 g/L of ammonia, and to 0.521 �� 0.135 g/L in the fluid containing 20 g/L of ammonia. The ammonia removal rate achieved in artificial colonic fluid containing 10 or 20 g/L of ammonia was significantly higher than that in the artificial gastric juice and small intestinal juice containing enzymes (100% �� 0.00% vs 96.41% �� 0.84%, and 97.29% �� 2.67% vs 86.42% �� 2.63%, respectively; both P < 0.05). ARM achieved a higher ammonia removal efficiency than empty microemulsion, water and lactulose. CONCLUSION: ARM shows a very good ammonia-removing effect and thus provides a new approach for removal of colonic ammonia. However, the digestive fluids in the stomach and small intestine may weaken such ammoniaremoving effect.

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