A quantitative assessment of serum chylomicron by light scattering intensity: Application to the intestinal fat absorption test

A novel fat absorption test to clarify the malabsorption syndrome was developed using a micronephelometric technique and compared with the classic conventional technique using 131I‐triolein. An integrity of time‐sequential light scattered from chylomicron‐related turbidity in serum was determined between 0 and 300 min after butter fat load, being expressed in terms of the light scattering intensity (LSI). A good correlation was obtained between LSI and the serum level of chylomicron‐triglyceride determined by an ultracentrifugation technique (r=0.819, P< 0.001). The maximal LSI was consistently observed at 180 min after administration of a test meal in the normal group (n= 39), whereas the malabsorption syndrome group (n= 35) was distinctly different and could be further classified according to four patterns of LSI changes. In addition, an inverse correlation was found between this fat absorption test and the 131I‐triolein absorption test. It was concluded that the micronephelometric technique which does not use a radionuclide is advantageous in its simple and safe evaluation of fat malabsorption syndrome.