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

Background 99mTechnetium scintigraphy (99mTS) is the ‘gold standard’ for measuring gastric emptying (GE), but it is associated with a radiation exposure. For this reason, the 13C-octanoic acid breath test (13C-OBT) was developed for measuring GE of solids. The objective of this study was to determine normal values for gastric half-emptying time (t1/2GE) of solids in healthy children. Methods Gastric emptying of a standardized solid test meal consisting of a pancake evaluated with 99mTS and 13C-OBT was compared in 22 children aged between 1 and 15 years with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Subsequently, the 13C-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 Results The results showed a significant correlation (r = 0.748, p = 0.0001) between t1/2GE measured with both techniques in the group of children with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. In the group of healthy children, mean t1/2GE was 157.7 ± 54.0 min (range 71–415 min), but t1/2GE 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 t1/2GE. Conclusions & Inferences Normal values for GE of solids measured with the 13C-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.