Test meal for assessing intraluminal phase of absorption in childhood.

A test meal for assessing the intraluminal phase of absorption in childhood 
has been validated. 132 test meals were administered to 110 patients 
aged 2 weeks to 18 years (mean age 4.3 years). 10 
children with suspected malabsorption, who were proven to be normal after 
extensive investigation, constituted the control group. The activities of pancreatic enzymes, 
and the total and individual bile salt concentrations are presented for 
the control subjects, and pancreatic enzyme levels in this group are 
compared with those seen in children with pancreatic insufficiency (cystic fibrosis). 
The test meal has been designed so that it can be 
administered to children with suspected gluten, cows' milk, or disaccharide intolerance. 
The control data provided a basis for the interpretation of information 
obtained from the application of such a test meal to the 
clinical investigation of children with suspected malabsorption. 