Screening for Fat Malabsorption
Authors: IRWIN H. ROSENBERG
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1981)

Editorials1 December 1981Screening for Fat MalabsorptionIRWIN H. ROSENBERG, M.D., MICHAEL D. SITRIN, M.D.IRWIN H. ROSENBERG, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, MICHAEL D. SITRIN, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-95-6-776 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptAlthough medicine has long sought methods to study fecal fat without studying feces, the 72-hour stool collection for quantitative determination of fecal fat (1) remains the gold standard for identifying patients with steatorrhea. In practice, this test is often inadequately done because of difficulties in controlling fat intake and in ensuring adequate sample collection. The esthetic problems of sample collection and analysis mean that results are seldom returned promptly to the clinician, limiting the test's utility as a screening procedure for steatorrhea. The prompt, semiquantitative information available from microscopic examination of stools stained for fat with Sudan III is underutilized...References1. VAN DE KAMERTEN BOKKEL HUININKWEYERS JHH. Rapid method for the determination of fat in feces. J Biol Chem. 1949;177:347-55. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. DRUMMEYBENSONJONES GJC. Microscopical examination of the stool for steatorrhea. N Engl J Med. 1961;264:85-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. OSMONZINNWHARTON KWG. Simplified test of fat absorption: comparison of serum turbidity, chylomicronemia, and total lipid values after fat test meal. JAMA. 1957;164:633-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. KAHAN J. The vitamin A absorption test II: studies on children and adults with disorders in the alimentary tract. Scand J Gastroenerol. 1970;5:5-12. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. DUFFYTURNER BD. The differential diagnosis of intestinal malabsorption with 131I-fat and fatty acid. Ann Intern Med. 1958;48:1-7. LinkGoogle Scholar6. ABTVON SCHUCHING AS. Fat utilization test in disorders of fat metabolism: a new diagnostic method applied to patients suffering from malabsorption syndrome, chronic pancreatitis, and arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Bull Hopkins Hosp. 1966;119:316-30. Google Scholar7. NEWCOMERHOFMANNDIMAGNOTHOMASCARLSON AAEPG. Triolein breath test: a sensitive and specific test for fat malabsorption. Gastroenterology. 1979;76:6-13. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. WESTLEVINGRIFFINMAXWELL PGGJ. Comparison of simple screening tests for fat malabsorption. Br Med J. 1981;282:1501-4. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. KAIHARAWAGNER SH. Measurement of intestinal fat absorption with carbon-14 labeled tracers. J Lab Clin Med. 1968;71:400-11. MedlineGoogle Scholar10. WATKINSSCHOELLERKLEINOTTNEWCOMERHOFMANN JDPDAA. 13C-trioctanoin; a nonradioactive breath test to detect fat malabsorption. J Lab Clin Med. 1977;90:422-30. MedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Section of Gastroenterology Department of Medicine University of Chicago Chicago, Illinois PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByLimitations of the triolein breath testREvaluation of the Patient with Suspected MalabsorptionDo we still need to measure faecal fat?In-vitro studies of malabsorption and other GI disorders 1 December 1981Volume 95, Issue 6Page: 776-777KeywordsFats Issue Published: 1 December 1981 PDF DownloadLoading ...