Indican is a colorless glycoside, soluble in water, naturally occurring in Indigofera plants. In the body it is produced by bacteria - by sulfonation of indole (absorbed by the colon and transported to the liver), a compound with intense fecal odor, degradation product of tryptophan which is derived from protein foods.
IUPAC Name: 1H-indol-3-yl hydrogen sulfate | CAS Registry Number: 487-94-5
Synonyms: Indoxyl sulfate, 3-Indoxyl sulfate, Indoxylsulfuric acid, INDICAN, 3-Indoxylsulfuric acid, Indican (metabolic indican), 3-SULFOOXY-1H-INDOLE, CID10258, Indican (metabolic indolyl sulfate), 2642-37-7 (mono-potassium salt), 1H-Indol-3-ol, hydrogen sulfate (ester), IOS, 1336-79-4, 487-94-5
A high excretion of indican in the urine, mostly combined with a low urinary tryptophan, is a symptom of tryptophan (protein) malabsorption in the small intestine. It also indicates an overgrowth of opportunistic or pathogenic bacteria or yeast in the bowel and more serious conditions like Hartnup's disease, blue diaper syndrome, intestinal toxemia, or peritonitis.
Low indican excretion could indicate the presence of steatorrhoea (reduced absorption of fat) especially if it rises to above normal on pancreatic enzyme therapy.
The urine indican's (or Obermeyer) test quantifies indican in the urine based on its decomposition and subsequent oxidation to indigo blue. Check MeBO-Biolab studies (NCT02692495) for more.
IUPAC Name: 1H-indol-3-yl hydrogen sulfate | CAS Registry Number: 487-94-5
Synonyms: Indoxyl sulfate, 3-Indoxyl sulfate, Indoxylsulfuric acid, INDICAN, 3-Indoxylsulfuric acid, Indican (metabolic indican), 3-SULFOOXY-1H-INDOLE, CID10258, Indican (metabolic indolyl sulfate), 2642-37-7 (mono-potassium salt), 1H-Indol-3-ol, hydrogen sulfate (ester), IOS, 1336-79-4, 487-94-5
A high excretion of indican in the urine, mostly combined with a low urinary tryptophan, is a symptom of tryptophan (protein) malabsorption in the small intestine. It also indicates an overgrowth of opportunistic or pathogenic bacteria or yeast in the bowel and more serious conditions like Hartnup's disease, blue diaper syndrome, intestinal toxemia, or peritonitis.
Low indican excretion could indicate the presence of steatorrhoea (reduced absorption of fat) especially if it rises to above normal on pancreatic enzyme therapy.
The urine indican's (or Obermeyer) test quantifies indican in the urine based on its decomposition and subsequent oxidation to indigo blue. Check MeBO-Biolab studies (NCT02692495) for more.
