indican /in″dikən/ [Gk, indikon, indigo] , a substance (potassium indoxyl sulfate) produced in the intestine by the decomposition of tryptophan, absorbed by the intestinal wall, and excreted in the urine. Its level may be elevated in the urine of patients on high-protein diets or those suffering from GI disease. The normal accumulation of indican in urine is 10 to 20 mg/24 hr.
