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The fatty meal test: an alternative to stool fat analysis
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|November 1, 1983
Summary
A new fatty meal absorption test accurately diagnoses fat malabsorption in children. This reliable method helps identify children with failure to thrive due to poor fat absorption.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Nutritional Science
- Diagnostic Medicine
Background:
- Stool fat estimations for malabsorption present technical challenges.
- Accurate diagnosis of fat malabsorption is crucial for children with failure to thrive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a novel fatty meal absorption test for diagnosing fat malabsorption.
- To compare the reliability of the fatty meal test against existing methods.
Main Methods:
- Children with failure to thrive were divided into control (normal stool fat) and steatorrhea groups.
- A standardized fatty meal (50g fat) was administered.
- Serum triglycerides and chylomicrons were measured hourly for 5 hours post-meal.
Main Results:
- A serum triglyceride rise <100 mg/dl or <100% above basal, and <7% chylomicrons were pathological indicators.
- 95% of the control group showed normal triglyceride response.
- 96% of patients with steatorrhea exhibited an abnormal triglyceride response.
Conclusions:
- The fatty meal absorption test is a reliable diagnostic tool for fat malabsorption.
- This test offers improved accuracy compared to the two-point triglyceride test.
- The described fatty meal test is a valuable assessment of intestinal absorptive function.