Abstract
SummaryIn order to define the normal values of steat‐ocrit during the first 3 months of life and the normal correlation between fecal fat content and steatocrit values, 60 full‐term healthy unweaned infants (30 bottle‐fed, 15 breast‐fed, and 15 mixed‐fed) were studied. The steatocrit micromethod was performed in these babies at 7, 14, 21, 28, 45, and 90 days after birth. Steatorrhea often occurs during the first month and then decreases, as shown by the fall in the steatocrit curve from 7th to 28th day in our subjects; at 45 days, few babies have steatorrhea. The 90th percentile profile of steatocrit values shows a value of 25% at the first week of life and a value of 13% at the fourth week. After the end of the third month, babies with steatocrit values higher than 2% should be put under close observation. Moreover, fat absorption can be greatly influenced by diet; in breast‐fed babies, steatorrhea disappears more rapidly and steatocrit values are lower at every age than in partly or totally formula‐fed babies. The good correlation between steatocrit values and fecal fat content (r = 0.97) confirms that this micromethod can be used for monitoring steatorrhea instead of other more cumbersome and expensive methods.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
