title: [Not all dietary supplements are biodegradable].
abstract: A 65-year-old man had for some time noticed rounded elements in his faeces. It was examined for parasites, which were, however, not detected. A specimen was then sent to a department of pathology. The specimen consisted of a rounded and collapsed process, 12 mm in diameter. It was quite thin-walled and hollow; the wall itself was tough and not elastic and classified as non-biological material. It was concluded that it was probably a capsule of medicine, dietary supplements, oil or a similar substance. The patient had eaten fish oil in capsules, and they had apparently not been biodegradable.
authors.affiliation: Patologiafdelingen, Roskilde Sygehus, Køgevej 7-13, 4000 Roskilde. seh@regionsjaelland.dk
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eiholm
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002214:Capsules / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D005243:Feces; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D005395:Fish Oils