The D-Xylose Absorption Test in Malabsorption Syndromes

Abstract

THE oral dextrose tolerance test has been employed as the conventional estimation of carbohydrate absorption. Usually, in celiac disease and nontropical sprue the blood tolerance curves are flat or show delayed peaks, suggesting a deficient or retarded rate of absorption. The normal curves ordinarily found in pancreatic exocrine insufficiency help to differentiate digestive from absorptive defects in patients with steatorrhea. Dextrose tolerance tests can be unreliable, however, in the same situation. Sometimes a "starvation-type" curve with a high maintained peak is present in the malnourished patient with sprue whereas 20 to 40 per cent of tests in healthy subjects show . . .