Failure of Taurine to Improve Fat Absorption in Cystic Fibrosis

Abstract

Fat absorption in cystic fibrosis (CF) often remains suboptimal despite seemingly adequate pancreatic enzyme replacement and the use of agents which reduce duodenal acidity (Nassif et al., 1981). Children with CF commonly have reduced taurine bile acid conjugates relative to glycine conjugates (i.e. elevated G/T ratio) (Robb et al., 1985) and bile acids conjugated with taurine have theoretically superior qualities to glycine-conjugated bile acids in relation to fat absorption (Darling et al., 1985). These findings have led to two trials of taurine supplementation in CF, results of which are conflicting. While Darling et al. (1985) showed significantly increased fat absorption with taurine supplementation, Thompson et al. (1987) were unable to reproduce these results in a similar group of patients. In neither study was the duodenal juice G/T ratio, which reflects most accurately the adequacy of the taurine dose, routinely measured.