D-xylose blood test (ninety-minute) in assymptomatic children from marginal areas of São Paulo City.

Assymptomatic children from marginal socio-economical area of São Paulo city, classified as "normal" according to the growth parameters for Brazilian children, were submitted to an oral D-Xylose test and the blood pentose values were checked in fasting time and ninety minutes after sugar ingestion. Based on body weight, the children were divided in three groups. The homogeneity of the three groups' results, as confirmed by statistics, permitted the aggregation of the values in a single one. The lower degree of dispersion suggested a narrow range of intestinal absorption capacity when compared with the value of normal children from well-developed countries. The lower critical normal limit of blood D-Xylose value, around 20 mg/100 ml. coincided with the same parameter for children from matured countries. These facts suggest an adaptation to the difficult environment conditions, that probably is a characteristic among children living in the marginal areas of great cities in developing countries.