A doctor does the fecal fat stain test as part of a stool analysis. This test determines if your body is digesting fat properly. Typically, you need to eat about 100 grams of fat per day for two or three days before the test. A stool sample is taken and then analyzed to determine the fat content.
The fecal fat test is an especially relevant test for people who’ve had their gall bladder removed, are suffering from irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease, or have any chronic digestive problem. The fecal fat test will also tell your doctor if you have pancreatitis.
It’s essential to understand if your body’s digesting fats properly. If your digestive tract is not processing the fats in your diet properly, you can experience a lot of problems. Remember that fat-soluble vitamins get broken down and absorbed in your intestine. If too much fat is passing in the stool rather than being digested or absorbed, the result can be vitamin deficiencies, fatigue, and a whole raft of other problems.
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The fecal fat test is usually done as part of a comprehensive stool analysis. It can also be done by your GI doctor as a small stand-alone test, particularly if the gall bladder has been removed.
I recommend looking in the toilet bowl after your bowel movements. An oily slick in the toilet bowl can alert you to possible fat malabsorption. Sometimes taking a digestive enzyme for a few weeks or a few months can solve the problem. Other times, you will need to be on the enzymes for longer. Changing your diet is sometimes part of managing problems with digesting fat.
Sources:
- https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=167&contentid=fecal_fat
- https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003588.htm
