Sinistrin

Sinistrin is a polysaccharide derived from the tuber of the Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus). It is a type of inulin, a group of naturally occurring polysaccharides produced by many types of plants. Sinistrin is used in medical diagnostics to measure glomerular filtration rate (GFR), an important test of kidney function.

Structure and properties

Sinistrin is a linear fructan, composed of fructose units linked by β(2→1) bonds. The degree of polymerization, or the number of fructose units in a sinistrin molecule, can vary, but is typically around 10-12. Like other inulins, sinistrin is not digested in the human gastrointestinal tract, but is excreted unchanged in the urine.

Medical uses

Sinistrin is used in the measurement of GFR, a key indicator of kidney function. It is injected into the bloodstream, and the rate at which it is cleared from the blood by the kidneys is measured. This provides a direct measure of the GFR, which can be used to diagnose and monitor kidney disease.

Sinistrin is also used in the Inulin clearance test, another method for measuring GFR. In this test, sinistrin is infused into the bloodstream, and the rate at which it is cleared from the blood is compared to the rate at which it is excreted in the urine. This provides a measure of the GFR that is independent of the concentration of sinistrin in the blood.

See also

• Inulin
• Glomerular filtration rate
• Inulin clearance

References

Sinistrin Resources
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