METABOLIC STUDIES IN PATIENTS WITH GASTRO-INTESTINAL CANCER. IV. FAT METABOLISM, A METHOD OF STUDY 1

Abstract

The gasometric method of Van Slyke et al. was adapted to measure the absorption of fat from the gastro-intestinal tract of a group of subjects. These included 2 normal individuals, 1 patient with gastric carcinoma, 1 patient who had undergone total gastrectomy, 1 patient with generalized atrophic gastritis, and 2 patients with hepatic cirrhosis. An abnormal absorption of fat was demonstrated only in the gastrectomized patient and in the patient with atrophic gastritis. The question is raised of a relationship between the absence of an intact gastric mucosa and the normal absorption of fat from the gastro-intestinal tract.