Folic acid and hexose absorption in sprue

Using an intestinal perfusion technique, folic acid (PGA) and hexose absorption were studied in 9 patients with sprue. Folate malabsorption was only demonstrable during perfusion with glucose or galactose and saline, not with saline alone. Hexose absorption was diminished. The stimulation by sugar of PGA, water, and sodium transport, as seen in controls, was absent. 2 patients with untreated tropical sprue had less severe malabsorption than those with celiac spure. Treatment of tropical spure for two months in one patient resulted in partial improvement, while treatment for six months in the other restored normal absorptive function.