BLOOD FAT TOLERANCE TESTS IN MALNUTRITION AND OBESITY

Abstract

I have become interested in the problem of the regulation of fat as the result of treating nondiabetic malnourished patients with insulin. When such patients are made to gain weight rapidly, fat is deposited in the subcutaneous tissues to a noteworthy degree. This is a curious fact and suggests the possibility that insulin may have an effect on the metabolism of fat as well as on the metabolism of sugar. PLAN OF STUDY An attempt was made to study fat tolerance in much the same manner that dextrose tolerance is customarily studied. A dose of 100 Gm. of fat in the form of 500 cc. of 20 per cent cream was employed as a test meal. This proved to be a reasonably palatable mixture, easily taken, and it never caused nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. It was administered to the patients in the morning after fasting over night. The plasma cholesterol