Effects of a Low-Fat Diet on Mineral Absorption in Small-Bowel Disease

Abstract
The absorption of Ca, Mg and Zn was studied by the metabolic balance technique at 2 fat intake levels in 9 patients with fat malabsorption. The net absorption of all 3 minerals was significantly higher from the 40-g fat diet than from the 100-g fat diet. Apparently, the lower fat content was the main reason for the increased mineral absorption, although the low-fat diet contained larger amounts of the minerals studied than did the high-fat diet.