On Mon, 22 Jul 2002, Don Wiss wrote:

> Item 3 is:
>
> "3. Steatorrhea
>
> "Dietary fat decreases calcium absorption through the formation of soaps.
> Soaps are formed due to the combination of fatty acids and calcium. Soaps
> do not cross the intestinal wall and are excreted in the feces. This
> condition is defined as steatorrhea."
>
> Steatorrhea is a medical condition. It is defined as the passage of fatty
> stools that are pale, bulky, frothy, greasy, malodorous and they float.
> They may be liquid or semi-formed. Malabsorption and about 100 diseases
> cause this. So I see this as a non-issue, unless steatorrhea is present.

The point of the reference is that the combination of dietary fat
and calcium (in some quantities or other) can *cause* this
condition.  That calcium and fat creates soaps is beyond dispute.
Malabsorption of calcium is a result of the formation of soaps.
To me, it seems that the quantities of calcium would have to be
rather large, but I've never seen a source that indicates the
quantities involved.

Todd Moody
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