METABOLISM IN IDIOPATHIC STEATORRHEA. II. EFFECT OF LIVER EXTRACT AND VITAMIN D ON CALCIUM, PHOSPHORUS, NITROGEN, AND LIPID BALANCES

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Abstract
Two patients with idiopathic steatorrhea (non-tropical sprue), given daily intramuscular injections of liver extract (Lilly-concentrated) for periods of 30 days, failed to show improvement in absorption of fatty acids, Ca, P or N. Oral administration of a vitamin D conc. of high potency (225,000 I.U. daily) relieved the hypocalcemia and hypophosphatemia of D avitaminosis. Other effects of the vitamin were to increase absorption of both Ca and P and to cause their retention in the body; to increase the urinary excretion of P and decrease the amount of fecal Mg. Vitamin D may act directly on the metabolism of P rather than secondarily through its effect on the absorption of Ca. Indirect effects of vitamin D therapy were some improvement in absorption of fatty acids and some decrease in water and N in the stools.