[Absorption and malabsorption of fat and bile acids (author's transl)]

The current concepts of normal fat absorption and the entero-hepatic circulation of bile acids are being reviewed with emphasis on the steps which are clinically important. Based on an understanding of normal physiology, diseases associated with steatorrhea can be classified according to pathogenetic mechanisms. In some diseases the pathogenesis of the steatorrhea is not understood. Malabsorption of fat and bile salts can have characteristic consequences such as nutritional deficiencies, diarrhea, hyperoxaluria with nephrolithiasis, and cholelithiasis. For quantitative assessment of steatorrhea chemical analysis of fecal fat is necessary.