Indican (indoxyl sulphate)
Indican (indoxyl sulphate) is a breakdown product of the amino acid tryptophan. It is measured in the second morning urine together with skatole.
How indican is formed
Gut bacteria such as Escherichia coli break down tryptophan from undigested dietary protein into indole. Indole is absorbed, converted into indoxyl sulphate in the liver and excreted by the kidneys. The more protein is fermented by bacteria in the gut, the more indican appears in urine.
Low indican – what does it mean?
A low value is unremarkable and speaks against increased protein putrefaction in the gut.
Raised indican – what does it mean?
Raised levels point to increased protein putrefaction. Possible reasons are a high-protein, low-fibre diet, incomplete protein digestion, stool remaining in the gut for a long time (constipation) or bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. With reduced kidney function, indoxyl sulphate is excreted less well; this is taken into account in the interpretation.
The interpretation is given in your report.
Also known as: indican, indican, indoxyl sulphate, indoxyl, putrefactive dyspepsia
Contexts in which this value is measured
- Foul-smelling wind
- Bloating
- Feeling of fullness
- Constipation
- High-protein diet
Analyses that include this value
There is currently no analysis in the shop for this value. A practitioner or doctor from the ORY expert network can tell you how else it can be determined.
View the expert networkReference ranges and how your personal value is to be read are set out in your findings report. You discuss the findings with a practitioner or doctor from the ORY expert network.