Faecal fat content in healthy adults by the ‘acid steatocrit method’

Abstract

Malabsorption syndromes causing steatorrhoea are quite common in India. Estimation of faecal fat is an important non-invasive investigation, which provides vital information regarding the occurrence of malabsorption. The aim of this study was to estimate the fat excretion per day in stools of apparently healthy adults on an unrestricted diet in random spot stool samples using the Acid Steatocrit Method, which provides an alternate, simpler and yet reliable method of stool fat estimation. Several studies have proved the correlation of the acid steatocrit method with the conventional methods. In India, however, there has been no published data regarding the normal levels of fat in the stools, by the acid steatocrit method. We follow the normal range values, as set by the United States and the European countdes, not having a range for the Indian population. Hence, we took up a preliminary study, to estimate stool fat in a section of normal and healthy Indian population. The result obtained after screening 600 healthy and normal adults, showed the mean of stool fat to be 8.72 gms/24 hours, which is much higher than that, defined by Western literature (7 gms/24 hours). This can be accounted for, by the cultural and ethnic variations in dietary and food habits. Further studies are required in the same direction, involving larger population groups, and in different malabsorptive conditions.

Omega-3 long chain fatty acid “bioavailability”: A review of evidence and methodological considerations

“…It is well established that excess dietary fat can be excreted in faeces (steatorrhea) as the result of certain medical cases (malabsorption, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, pancreatitis and so on). However, even in healthy individuals the amount of fat in faeces can vary between 5.8-12.4 g per day for adults [63]. Furthermore, Lorenzen and Astrup [64] have shown that a diet rich in dairy calcium (1977 mg per 10 MJ) increased faecal excretion of fat by up to 30% compared with diet low in calcium (504 mg per 10 MJ).…”

Incomplete functional and morphological recovery after acute and acute recurrent pancreatitis in children

“…The following formula was used to calculate acid steatocrit (%) = FL/(FL + SL) × 100, where FL is the fatty layer and SL the solid layer. The fat content was quantified as given by Bijoor et al …”

Comparing acid steatocrit and faecal elastase estimations for use in M-ANNHEIM staging for pancreatitis

“…500-μL aliquot of the homogenized stool were added with 100 mL of Perchloric acid and the pH was confirmed to be < 1. The mixture was aspirated into a capillary tube, sealed at one end and centrifuged at 13000 revolutions per minute for exactly 15 min[ 9 , 11 ]. The length of the fatty layer and the length of the solid layer were measured.…”

“…Acid steatocrit (%) was obtained by the formula: fatty layer/(fatty layer + solid layer) × 100. The stool fat (in grams/day) was calculated by the equation: -0.43 + (0.45 × acid steatocrit %)[ 9 ]. Steatorrhoea was diagnosed when the stool fat excretion was 7 g/d or higher[ 4 ].…”