[Short-duration fatty meal loading for the assessment of intestinal malabsorption syndromes in children: preliminary study]. / Epreuve courte de charge orale en graisse pour l'exploration des syndromes de malabsorption intestinale chez l'enfant: étude préliminaire.

The determination of fecal fat gives a reliable index for studying fat intestinal absorption in children, but requires the collection of whole day stools for 3 consecutive days. To avoid stool collection constraint, the authors implemented a 3-point short-duration fatty meal test with determination of subsequent increase in serum levels of triglycerides and chylomicrons which then were compared to fasting values. Normal values were determined among control healthy children. Five patients with diagnosed malabsorption syndromes showed markedly impaired results. This fatty meal test seemed simple, easy to perform during a full-day admission. Further studies are being implemented to confirm its good diagnostic value.