Summary

Fat balance studies were performed on nine tropical sprue patients before and after the administration of a gluten-free diet. Additional studies were performed in three of these patients who were kept for a prolonged period of time on a gluten-restricted diet. Other tests for intestinal absorption such as D-xylose excretion and vitamin A absorption were carried out prior to and after treatment in some cases. A dietary history of each patient was made prior to study.

Steatorrhea was significantly reduced in four out of nine patients kept on a gluten-free diet for periods of 12 to 33 days. One patient who did not respond to the initial gluten-free regimen showed significant improvement after a prolonged period on a gluten-restricted diet.