Energy content of stools in normal healthy controls and patients with cystic fibrosis

Article Abstract:

The amount of energy (calories) eliminated in the feces is estimated to be 5 percent of the energy taken in. The amount of energy lost in the stool of 5- to 16-year-old children has not been studied. Energy losses in the stool may affect the availability of energy and growth. Cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease of the exocrine glands, is characterized by impaired function of the pancreas, chronic respiratory infection, and increased loss of electrolytes in sweat. Impaired pancreatic function leads to abnormalities in the digestion and absorption of lipids (fats), protein, and carbohydrates, which may limit the availability of energy from the diet and thereby restrict growth. The digestive problems associated with cystic fibrosis are managed by pancreatic enzyme therapy, which relieves steatorrhea (fatty stools) and abdominal pain, and reduces the frequency and amounts of stool passed each day. The severity of steatorrhea should serve as an indicator of energy loss in the stool, and thereby provide some information about the availability of energy from the diet, abnormalities in digestion, and the effectiveness of pancreatic enzyme treatment. The energy content of the stool was assessed in 20 healthy subjects (6 to 11 years) and 20 patients with cystic fibrosis (5 to 25 years) who continued to receive pancreatic enzymes. The loss of energy in the stool was three times greater in the cystic fibrosis patients. The lipid content of the stool accounted for 29 percent of energy in the stools of healthy children and 41 percent in those with cystic fibrosis. In both groups, 30 percent of energy in stool was due to bacteria present in the colon. These findings suggest that energy losses in the stool occur in cystic fibrosis patients who receive pancreatic enzyme therapy, and that such losses may cause an energy deficit and restrict growth. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Analysis, Children, Feces, Energy metabolism, Energy metabolism in children

---

Excessive faecal losses of vitamin A (retinol) in cystic fibrosis

Article Abstract:

Cystic fibrosis is an eventually fatal, genetic disease that affects the pancreas and respiratory system. It usually begins in infancy and is characterized by chronic respiratory infections and an increased amount of sodium in the sweat. Impaired function of the pancreas causes problems of digestion and absorption and results in very high levels of fat in the feces. This can lead to deficiencies of fat soluble vitamins, such as vitamin A (retinol). A recent study assessed the daily intake of fat and retinol in 11 patients with cystic fibrosis and 12 normal subjects. The amount of fat and retinol in the feces was measured from three-day stool samples. Little difference was found in the amounts of fat and retinol taken in by the two groups, and a similar amount of fat absorption occurred in both groups. However, the feces of patients with cystic fibrosis contained a significantly higher amount of retinol, which was unrelated to the fat content. The amount of retinol recovered from the feces of cystic fibrosis patients was 40 percent of that consumed; the recovery rate in normal subjects was 1.8 percent. These results support the notion that cystic fibrosis patients have a deficit of retinol absorption which might be unrelated to the digestion and absorption of fat. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Vitamins, Vitamin A, Pediatric respiratory diseases, Cystic fibrosis in children

---

Effect of family size and income on the biochemical indices of urban school children of Bangladesh

Article Abstract:

Socio-economic data and blood samples were obtained from 242 school children in Bangladesh to determine the effect of family size and income on the biochemical indices of urban children. Results show that children from smaller families have higher values for hemoglobin and vitamin A compared to children coming from big families. Children from families with high income also showed higher serum vitamin A and lower serum copper compared to the lower income group. These results show that family size and income play important roles in determining biochemical indices of urban school children.

Health aspects, Social aspects, Economic aspects, Bangladesh, Elementary school students, Family size, Reference values (Medicine)

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Breast vasculitis in association with breast gigantism in a pregnant patient with systemic lupus erythematosus
• Abstracts: Prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with fetal loss. Risk factors for thrombosis in lupus patients
• Abstracts: Lupus anticoagulant: clinical significance in anticardiolipin positive patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
• Abstracts: The role of ultrasound in evaluation of patients with elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein: a review. Monozygotic twins discordant for partial trisomy 1
• Abstracts: The effect of low-dose warfarin on the risk of stroke in patients with nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation. Warfarin in the prevention of stroke associated with nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.