Adult Gastroenterology Associates
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Fecal Fat Test Diet Preparation Purpose Malabsorption is a medical condition that means fat in the diet (and also proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins) may not be absorbed properly. Absorption is the transfer of nutrients into the bloodstream from the intestine. The bloodstream then carries these nutrients to the areas of the body where they are needed. Malabsorption may be caused by disorders of the pancreas, stomach, and small intestine. The best way to make the diagnosis is to measure the amount of fat in the stool. The fat content is usually measured each day for three consecutive days. To get an effective test result, it is necessary to eat 100 grams of fat each day for six days. This begins three days before the test and continues for the three days during the test. This fat load challenges the intestine to absorb fat. If absorption is normal, up to 6 grams of the 100 grams would be passed with the stool over 24 hours, and the rest would be absorbed in the intestine. Malabsorption is suspected when fat in the stool is in excess of 6 grams. Nutrition Facts A 100 gm fat diet should be adequate in all nutrients. Furthermore, this diet is not used long enough to cause deficiencies, especially if the regular food pattern is adequate in grains, vegetables, and fruits. Special Considerations Fat intake can be from either animal or vegetable sources. A mixture of the two is usually recommended. The amount of fat eaten should be recorded daily throughout the six-day diet. If 100 grams of fat cannot be eaten each day, notify the physician of the approximate amount eaten. Each hospital or laboratory has its own special preparation and materials for collecting the stool specimens. These instructions should be followed exactly. Usually, there is a canister for each of the three days. Urine and toilet tissue should not be placed in the container or mixed with the stool. Food Groups Group Recommend Milk & milk products whole milk (4% fat), 2% milk, creams, whole milk cheeses, whole milk buttermilk Meat & meat substitutes marbled meats such as beef and pork, hamburger with over 15% fat, hot dogs, sausage, bacon, lunchmeat, chicken fat, salmon and fatty fishes (most fish is low in fat), dark meat of poultry, whole eggs, meat and chicken fried in oil Fats & oils butter, shortening, margarine, olive oil, vegetable oils (corn, coconut, soy bean), mayonnaise Sweets & desserts commercial cakes, pies, cookies, ice cream, ice milk, custards and puddings made with whole or 2% milk, chocolate Fruits most fruits are very low in fat Vegetables certain vegetables have a high fat content; avocados, soybeans, olives, nuts, vegetables fried in oil, fried potatoes Breads & grains butter rolls, refrigerated or frozen rolls, sweet rolls, commercial or microwave popcorn Soups creamed soups made with creams, whole milk, or 2% milk The amount of fat in grams of an average serving is listed below.   Fat grams sirloin steak 4 oz, broiled/fried 20/28 dark meat chicken 4 oz. roasted with skin 18 hamburger (20% fat) 14 eggs 2 large 11 cream 1 oz, heavy whipping (35% fat) 11 mayonnaise 1 Tbsp 11 Whole milk (4% fat) 8 oz 8 medium whipping cream (25% fat) 7.6 2% milk 8 oz 4.7 butter 1 tsp 4 The amount of fat in grams of an average serving is listed below.   Fat grams ice dream 1/2 cup (16% fat) 23.7 sausage 2 links 23 American cheese (whole milk) 2 oz 17 french fries 15 (3 oz) 15 ice cream 1/2 cup (10% fat) 14.3 vegetable oil 1 Tbsp 14 nuts 1 oz 14 commercial pie 1 slice (1/6 pie) 10 cream cheese, regular 1 oz 9.5 milk chocolate 1 oz 9 salmon 4 oz 7.3 bacon 2 strips 6 ice milk 1 cup 5.6 cakes, cookies, pies, etc. Read labels. Food labels now provide an accurate amount of fat per serving. Sample Menu Breakfast Lunch Dinner orange juice 4 oz Bran Flakes 1/2 cup fried eggs 2 large bacon 2 slices wheat toast 2 slices margarine 2 tsp jelly 1 Tbsp whole milk 8 oz coffee 1 cup sugar 2 tsp salt 1 tsp pepper 1 tsp chicken salad 1/2 cup on lettuce leaf macaroni salad 1/2 cup saltines 6 apple 1 med coffee 1 cup sugar 1 tsp salt 1 tsp pepper 1 tsp roast beef 4 oz baked potato 1 med margarine 1 Tbsp cooked carrots 1/2 cup dinner roll gelatin 1/2 cup whipped topping 2 Tbsp coffee 1 cup sugar 1 tsp salt 1 tsp pepper 1 tsp This Sample Diet Provides the Following Calories 2220 Fat 100 gm Protein 90 gm Sodium 3995 mg Carbohydrates 240 gm Potassium 3029 mg