Association between intestinal tight junction permeability and whole-body electrical resistance in healthy individuals: A hypothesis

Abstract

Objective Intestinal permeability describes non-carrier–mediated modes of transport through the intestinal epithelium. Wrist–ankle bioimpedance analysis (BIA) is a standard method to determine body composition based on the measurements of whole-body electrical resistance and reactance values. The present report deals with the coincidentally observed associations between permeability results and electrical raw values of BIA and their subsequent reproduction in a larger group of individuals. Methods Tetrapolar wrist–ankle BIA was performed on day 1 in the initial sample (12 women, 36 ± 11 y of age) and the validation sample (36 healthy subjects, 26 women and 10 men, 35 ± 14 y of age). Intestinal permeability tests (lactulose and mannitol) were implemented within 1 wk thereafter. Wrist–ankle electrical resistance plus electrical resistance between current-conducting electrodes and voltage-sensing electrodes (Rtotal) was measured at 5 kHz and 100 kHz. Results Permeability and bioimpedance raw values were normal, indicating normal tight junction permeability and normal hydration. Lactulose correlated to R 50total in the initial sample (ρ = 0.639, P = 0.025) and in the validation sample (ρ = 0.673, P < 0.001). Weaker associations to R 50total were observed with mannitol (ρ = 0.381, P = 0.008) and lactulose/mannitol (ρ = 0.369, P = 0.010) in the total group of individuals. Regression analyses demonstrated that R 50total alone accounted for 41.3% of the variance in lactulose permeability. Conclusion The nature of the observed positive association between intestinal tight junction permeability and whole-body electrical resistance is unclear. We hypothesize that regulation involving submolecular mechanisms based on the principles of quantum physics might have caused the observed association. Such coherent mechanisms might possibly play a role in basal physiologic regulation in humans.