Abstract
A high incidence of essential fatty acid deficiency (EFAD) has been reported in CF but the respective role of nutritional status and of fat malabsorption has not been established. EFA status was determined in 163 CF children. When compared with 44 age-matched controls, 47% were found to be deficient on the basis of an abnormal ratio of 20:3ω9/20:4ω6. In the second part of the study, 24-hr fat excretion was measured in 27 patients consuming 35-40% of their calories as fat and maintained on pancreatic enzymes (Pancrease). The group of 13 (aged 11±4 yr) excreting more than 13 g of fat (25.7±9.2 g) did not differ from the 14 (age 8.5±3.5 yr) with a lesser degree of steatorrhea (5.5±2.2 g) in terms of clinical and biochemical indices of malnutrition. However, values of FEF 25-75 were significantly lower (P<0.05) in the group with severe steatorrhea. EFAD assessed by ratios of 20:3ω9/ 20:4ω6, of 16: 1ω7/18:2ω6 as well as by the % of total fatty acids represented by the ω7 family was more severe (P<.05) in the group with severe steatorrhea than in the other. This study suggests that the severity of EFAD is closely correlated with the degree of steatorrhea, rather than with nutritional status. In view of the role of EFA on immune function and membrane composition, priority to nutrilional support programs should be maintained but closer attention should be given to ongoing fat malabsorption.
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Lacaille, F., Smith, L., Lepage, G. et al. THE SEVERITY OF ESSENTIAL FATTY ACID DEFICIENCY IN CYSTIC FIBROSIS IS RELATED TO STEATORRHEA RATHER THAN TO NUTRITIONAL STATUS. Pediatr Res 27, 539 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199005000-00081
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199005000-00081