THE COMPARATIVE ABSORPTION OF VITAMIN A FROM A WATER-MISCIBLE AND AN OILY PREPARATION BY NORMAL HUMAN ADULTS AND PATIENTS WITH STEATORRHEA 1

Abstract

The gastro-intestinal absorbabilities of an oily soln. and aqueous dispersion of vit. A were compared in 12 adult control subjects and 6 patients with steatorrhea. The steatorrhea in 5 patients was a manifestation of nontropical sprue. The remaining patient had steatorrhea associated with diabetes mellitus. Vit. A absorption was studied by performing 2 vit. A tolerance tests combined with measurement of fecal and urinary vit. A losses in each subject. One tolerance test was done using the oily prepn. and the other employing the aqueous dispersion of vit. A. The controls and patients received preliminary dosage with the water-miscible prepn. of vit. A. The controls displayed higher plasma curves and lower fecal losses of vit. A after ingestion of the aqueous dispersion than after taking the oily prepn. of vit. A. The patients with nontropical sprue had flat plasma curves and excessive fecal excretion of vit. A with both prepns. However, the vit. A in the aqueous dispersion was absorbed more rapidly and less of it was excreted in the feces than was the vit. in oily soln. One patient with diabetes mellitus and steatorrhea had a flat plasma curve after ingestion of the oily material, a normal curve with the aqueous dispersion, and excessive fecal losses of vit. A with both prepns. Evidence is presented to show that, the vit. A tolerance curve is not always an accurate measure of vit. A absorption from the intestine. There is reason to believe that it becomes more consistently accurate in this regard when preliminary doses of vit. A are admd. to insure adequate tissue storage at the time the test is performed, and when measurement of fecal losses of vit. A is carried out concomitantly.