American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 25, 987-991, Copyright © 1972 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Effects of neomycin in obese patients with jejunoileostomy

¹ From the Department of Medicine, Highland Hospital and the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry

Studies of fecal excretion and serum cholesterol, carotene, and triglycerides were performed in four obese patients with small bowel bypass. All patients had features of malabsorption that were enhanced by neomycin. This drug also produced in two patients a decrease of serum cholesterol and, in all four patients, an increase in fecal fat and neutral sterol excretion. The fecal bile acid and neutral sterol patterns changed with administration of neomycin and an increase of primary bile acids and of cholesterol in three of the patients was observed. The fourth patient, treated prior to the study with neomycin, did not show these changes.

The findings indicate that previously described effects of neomycin are also present when large segments of the small bowel are excluded from food and drug contact. Thus, neomycin may enhance the effect of intestinal bypass in obese individuals.