Abstract

Vitamin A acetate and vitamin A alcohol, triolein I¹³¹, oleic acid I¹³¹, and fat balance tests have been assessed in studies on cases of coeliac disease, pancreatic insufficiency, and some disorders of the small intestinal wall.

In coeliac disease a very low serum carotene and flat vitamin A absorption curves have been noted. The contrast between vitamin A acetate and alcohol curves has been clearly shown in cases of pancreatic disorder showing maldigestion. The correlation between vitamin A and triolein I¹³¹ absorption (0·89) is closer than that between vitamin A and fat balance.

In assessing intestinal absorption serum carotene figures are of value only if very low figures are found.