BLOOD ABSORPTIVE PATTERNS OF ISOTOPICALLY-LABELED FAT AND FATTY ACID

Abstract

Isotopically labeled fat or fatty acid is a new and effective tool that is available to the clinician in the study of various conditions associated with abnormal lipid metabolism. Blood absorptive patterns after an oral test meal of these substances may be used diag-nostically either to determine the etiology of steatorrhea of the site of jaundice, or to evaluate the degree of fat malabsorption in regional ileitis, sprue, congestive failure and other diseases before and after treatment. In addition, tolerance tests in coronary atherosclerosis, hypercholesterolemia and obesity may be used to follow the fate of ingested fat in a much simpler and more precise manner than is now available. Future modifications of the procedure, with extensions into wider spheres, should result in much valuable information concerned with basic metabolic mechanisms.