Medium and long chain fat absorption in patients with cirrhosis.

Medium chain fatty acids (MCFA) are known to differ from long chain fatty acids (LCFA) in their absorption, transportation, and metabolism. In malabsorption states, medium chain triglycer- ides (MCT) are better absorbed than long chain triglycerides (LCT) (1-3) and have been used in the treatment of such conditions. MCFA are trans- ported from the gut mainly by the portal vein as fatty acids, whereas LCFA are transported pri- marily by the lymphatics in chylomicrons (4-6). Absorbed MCFA are immediately oxidized in the liver, as demonstrated by 14CO2 recovery in the expired air of normal volunteers who have received orally administered 14C-labeled MCFA (7-9).