Intestinal Transport of Monosaccharides in Generalized and Selective Malabsorption

Abstract

Summary Intestinal intubation studies were performed in one normal child, two cases of glucose‐galactose malabsorption and one case of celiac disease. The absorption of glucose and fructose in the upper intestinal tract was measured simultaneously after administration of a liquid test meal containing PEG as a reference substance. In glucose‐galactose malabsorption the fructose absorption was of the same order as in the normal subject, and was considerably higher than the glucose absorption, resulting in an inverse relationship between the absorption rates of fructose and glucose. In celiac disease the absorption of fructose as well as glucose was decreased. The ratio of the absorption rate of fructose to that of glucose was not disturbed.