Abstract
We studied the applicability of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to determine the amount of faecal fatty acids and triglycerides in faeces. For this, we have optimised a simple hexane extraction procedure of stool. After extraction, an aliquot of the hexane layer is directly injected into the measurement cell of the spectrophotometer and absorbance at 1714 cm(-1) and 1751 cm(-1) is read for quantitation of fatty acids and triglycerides, respectively. Comparison of the FTIR spectrophotometric method with the traditional titrimetric Van de Kamer method for faecal fat determination showed a good correlation. The advantage of our method over the previously described FTIR and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) methods is that it allows a combined measurement of both fatty acids and triglycerides in one run, using a simple and rapid hexane extraction procedure. Clinical validation of this method was performed by reviewing the medical records of 24 patients with steatorrhoea: patients with pancreatic steatorrhoea showed highly increased faecal triglyceride excretion, but a normal faecal fatty acid and faecal weight when compared with patients with non-pancreatic intestinal steatorrhoea.
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