Fat Absorption on High Fat Diets.

Abstract

The subjects of this study were 31 diabetic children, from 2 ½ to 15 years of age. Food with a caloric equivalent sufficient for full activity was provided, supplied chiefly as fat, with a potential fatty-acid: glucose weight ratio of 1 ½:1. In most instances, patients were aglycosuric. Three day collections were made under expert supervision, using the usual technique. In some instances the total fecal output was dried and finely ground before analysis; in others aliquot portions of the output, thoroughly mixed, were analyzed without preliminary drying. Total fat was determined according to a modification of a method suggested by Eckstein 1 as most suitable for the purpose. In general it consists of prolonged dehydration and extraction with successive quantities of absolute alcohol, followed by chloroform. The combined extracts after evaporation to dryness in the cold are extracted with petroleum ether, the extract filtered, desiccated and weighed. Known amounts of butter oil were recovered with but small error by this method.

The average total daily output of the ether-soluble substances was 4.43 gm. per child. Compared with the individual daily intake, the excretion was equivalent to from 0.75% to 6.5% of the amount of fat ingested, with an average value of 2.56%. These patients were receiving daily approximately 3 gm. of fat per pound of body weight, constituting about 75% of the total calories. The retention is similar to that found in children receiving the usual fat intake, which comprises about 30% of the total calories.

This study confirms the observations of others that fat absorption in the healthy person is practically complete, even with a high fat intake. It also indicates that the adequacy of fat digestion in diabetic children is not demonstrably diminished.