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Impaired absorption of micellar long-chain fatty acid in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis

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Abstract

Diminished absorption of micellar long-chain fatty acid in patients with liver cirrhosis compared with controls was demonstrated during perfusion of the proximal small bowel with a micellar solution of long-chain fatty acid. Since parallel experiments showed no difference in absorption of medium-chain fatty acids, the results suggest impairment of the mucosal transport of long-chain fatty acid in cirrhosis. We suggest that this abnormality, possibly related to portal or lymphatic hypertension, contributes to fat malabsorption and malnutrition in these patients.

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Author notes

  1. Juan-R. Malagelada MD (recipient of a Juan March Foundation Fellowship)

    Present address: Division of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 55901, Rochester, Minnesota

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts

    Juan-R. Malagelada MD (recipient of a Juan March Foundation Fellowship), Owe Pihl MD &  Willem G. Linscheer MD

  2. Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse, New York

    Juan-R. Malagelada MD (recipient of a Juan March Foundation Fellowship), Owe Pihl MD &  Willem G. Linscheer MD

  3. Veterans Administration Hospital, 800 Irving Avenue, 13210, Syracuse, New York

    Juan-R. Malagelada MD (recipient of a Juan March Foundation Fellowship), Owe Pihl MD &  Willem G. Linscheer MD

Authors
  1. Juan-R. Malagelada MD
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  2. Owe Pihl MD
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  3. Willem G. Linscheer MD
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Additional information

This work was supported in part by Research Grant AM-11566 and Training Grant AM-05 424 from the National Institutes of Health, United States Public Health System.

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Malagelada, JR., Pihl, O. & Linscheer, W.G. Impaired absorption of micellar long-chain fatty acid in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. Digest Dis Sci 19, 1016–1020 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01255783

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