The value of the 14C breath test in the assessment of fat absorption
Mills, P.R.; Horton, P.W.; Watkinson, G.
Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology 14(8): 914-920
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-5521 PMID: 531511 Document Number: 143760
The absorption of [14C]glyceryl tripalmitate by mouth was tested in 77 subjects by hourly sampling of breath 14CO2 for up to 6 h. A highly significant correlation was obtained between maximum breath 14CO2 activity and faecal fat excretion. The test was very effective in differentiating between patients with and without steatorrhoea. Repetition of this examination with [14C]palmitic acid by mouth demonstrated normal absorption in pancreatic steatorrhoea but impaired absorption in intestinal steatorrhoea, thus enabling those conditions to be distinguished.