FOLATE ABSORPTION IN THE JEJUNUM OF CHRONIC ETHANOL-FED RATS - IN-VIVO STUDIES

This study sought to determine the intestinal in vivo absorption of fo lic acid and methyltetrahydrofolate (MTHF) by jejunum surface at diffe rent times, after 20 weeks of 30% ethanol ingestion. The absorption re sults were compared with the data of control rats. In general after et hanol treatment jejunal folic acid absorption was higher than in contr ol rats. When the folic acid concentrations in the perfusion medium we re 0.5 mu M an increase at later times in ethanol-fed rats was found. At 1 mu M the folic acid absorption values were significantly higher a t the earlier time. When the concentration assayed was 2.5 mu M, signi ficant modifications were only seen at 30 min. Results of MTHF absorpt ion by jejunum of ethanol-fed rats were similar to absorption values o f control rats. No significant differences between both groups were fo und. The results obtained in the present work suggested a different ab sorptive behavior of both substrates and a different effect of ethanol on folic acid and MTHF absorption in the jejunum.