Effect of a low-fat diet on bile salt excretion and diarrhoea in the gastrointestinal radiation syndrome.

Nine patients with diarrhoea and bile salt malabsorption after pelvic irradiation for malignant gynaecologic tumours were treated with a low-fat diet (40 g of fat per day) for 3 to 6 months. Faecal excretion of bile salts decreased in all patients concomitant with relief of symptoms.