[Bile acids in duodenal juice of infants and children. Normal values, lognormal distribution, and age-dependence of the total quantity and the distribution of bile acids (author's transl)].

43 gastroenterologically healthy infants and children were investigated during the basic secretion period and after the injection of secretin/pankreozymin in order to establish the total quantity and also the distribution of the secreted bile acids. The total concentration and quantity were enzymatically determined while column and thin-layer chromatography were utilized to separate the bile into 34 different bile acids. Quantified results for bile salts were read directly from the thin-layer sheet with the help of a Chromatogram-Spectrophotometer Zeiss KM 3. While the total quantity of bile acids was found to be independent of age, the composition of bile changed during the first years of life. The percentage of cholic acids decreased from 50% in infants to 35% in older children. At the same time, deoxycholic acids went up from 3% to 13%, and chenodeoxycholic acids increased by 5%. The percentage of glycine and taurine conjugated bile salts, however, remained constant after to the second month of life, the former at 58% and the latter at 35%. In comparison, rather small amounts of unconjugated acids and sulfates were secreted, 0,5% and 6% respectively. The latter were distributed in the same sequence as the nonsulfated bile acids. Lithocholic acids (2,6%) and ursodeoxycholic acids (4,3%) were regularly present in the intestinal secretion.