Korean J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr.  2001 Apr;4(1):77-82.

Evaluation of Acid Steatocrit in Korean Infants

• Kim KS
• Park JH
• Sim JG

Abstract

PURPOSE: The fecal acid steatocrit is an improved steatocrit method for the evaluation of fecal fat. The present study was set up in order to define the normal range of acid steatocrit values during the first 3 months of life.
METHODS
Fecal acid steatocrit values were determined in 78 healthy full term and in 21 healthy prematurely born infants between May 1998 and April 2000. The acid steatocrit method was performed in these babies during the first 3 months of life.
RESULTS
Steatorrhea occurs during the first month and then decreases, as shown by the fall in the acid steatocrit curve from 1st to 3rd month in our subject. Very high acid steatocrit results (above 90%) were found in all full term and premature infants during the first month of age. Acid steatocrit
results
of human milk-fed infants were significantly lower than those of formula-fed infants (p=0.0018).
CONCLUSION
We conclude that high acid steatocrit results during the first 1 month of age can be due to physiologic steatorrhea. The acid steatocrit micromethod can be used for the evaluation of milk fat absorption in infants and monitoring steatorrhea instead of other more cumbersome
methods
.

Keyword

Acid steatocrit; Normal value; Neonate

MeSH Terms

Absorption
Humans
Infant*
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Milk
Reference Values
Steatorrhea