Intestinal Phosphatase and Fat Absorption ∗

Abstract

Summary

After administration of a meal, containing 56 g of fat, serum alkaline phosphatase of intestinal origin was demonstrated electrophoretically in 14 subjects lacking it in the fasting state. Other subjects ingesting skim milk or glucose did not develop the intestinal component. A dilution technique indicating the sensitivity of the electrophoretic method is presented and shows that 2–3 mU/ml of phosphatase activity can be detected. Because of this sensitivity, intestinal phosphatase could be demonstrated in types of subjects in whom it had not been found by other authors. The importance of diet in studies of intestinal phosphatase is emphasized.