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Acid steatocrit during infancy
A Van den Neucker1, P Forget, J A Veneberg
1Department of Paediatrics and Chemistry, University Hospital of Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Insights
The faecal acid steatocrit test helps evaluate infant fat absorption. High results before 6 months may be normal, but after 6 months, they suggest fat malabsorption.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Clinical Chemistry
Background:
- Accurate assessment of fecal fat is crucial for infant health.
- The faecal acid steatocrit is an improved method for fecal fat evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish reference values for faecal acid steatocrit in infants during their first year of life.
- To differentiate physiological steatorrhea from fat malabsorption in infants.
Main Methods:
- Faecal acid steatocrit values were measured in 58 healthy full-term and 16 healthy premature infants.
- Infants were categorized by feeding type (human milk vs. formula) and age.
Main Results:
- Premature and many formula-fed term infants showed high faecal acid steatocrit (>60%) in the first 6 months, decreasing significantly thereafter.
- Human milk-fed infants had significantly lower faecal acid steatocrit values than formula-fed infants between 40 and 120 days of age (p < 0.01).
Conclusions:
- High faecal acid steatocrit values after 6 months of age indicate fat malabsorption.
- Elevated values before 6 months can be attributed to physiological steatorrhea, suggesting the test's utility in assessing milk fat absorption.
Abstract:
The faecal acid steatocrit is an improved steatocrit method for the evaluation of faecal fat. The present study was set up in order to establish reference values during the first year of life. Faecal acid steatocrit values were determined in 58 healthy full term and in 16 healthy prematurely born infants. Very high acid steatocrit results (above 60%) were found in all premature and many formula-fed term infants during the first 6 months of age, thereafter with values below 10%. In 40- to 120-day-old infants acid steatocrit results of human milk-fed infants were significantly lower than those of formula-fed infants (p < 0.01). We conclude that high acid steatocrit results after the age of 6 months are indicative of fat malabsorption, while before this age high values can be due to "physiological steatorrhoea". The acid steatocrit should be useful for the evaluation of milk fat absorption in infants.