Annals of Clinical Biochemistry > Annals of Clinical Biochemistry Online First > 10.1258/acb.2009.009061

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Original Article

Age-related faecal calprotectin, lactoferrin and tumour M2-PK concentrations in healthy volunteers

Jinny Jeffery¹, Shilpa Joshi¹, Stephen J Lewis², Siobhan Creanor³ and Ruth M Ayling¹

¹ Department of Clinical Biochemistry; ² Department of Gastroenterology, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth PL6 8DH; ³ Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Plymouth, Tamar Science Park, Plymouth PL6 8BX, UK

Corresponding author: Ruth M Ayling. Email: ruthayling{at}clinicalbiochemistry.org.uk

Objective: Measurement of the faecal markers calprotectin, lactoferrin and tumour M2-PK has been reported to be useful in the diagnosis and management of a range of gastrointestinal disorders in both children and adults. The aim of this study was to investigate the requirement for age-related reference ranges.

Methods: Faecal samples were obtained from 132 healthy subjects and analysis of calprotectin, lactoferrin and tumour M2-PK was performed using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: In healthy subjects median concentrations were as follows: for calprotectin 2–9 y 34 µg/g, 10–59 y 22 µg/g and 60 y 27 µg/g; for lactoferrin 2–9 y 2.2 µg/g, 10 y 0.5 µg/g; for tumour M2-PK all subjects <1 mU/L. Significant differences between age groups for different markers resulted in the following age-related reference ranges: calprotectin 2–9 y <79 µg/g, 10–59 y <22 µg/g, 60 y <44 µg/g; lactoferrin 2–9 y <18 µg/g, 10 y <2.4 µg/g; tumour M2-PK 2 y >3.9 mU/L.

Conclusion: In healthy individuals, we found variation in the faecal inflammatory markers calprotectin and lactoferrin with age. For both calprotectin and lactoferrin, children aged 2–9 y had significantly higher concentrations than subjects aged 10 y. For calprotectin but not lactoferrin, adults 60 y had a higher concentration than those aged 10–59 y. There was no change with age in the metabolomic marker faecal tumour M2-PK in healthy subjects. Knowledge of age-related reference ranges in healthy subjects is important to fully interpret changes in gastrointestinal disease.

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