EFFECTS OF DIETARY-FAT AND CHRONIC ETHANOL ADMINISTRATION ON INTESTINAL UPTAKE OF SOLUTES IN RATS

The effect of chronic ethanol administration on intestinal uptake of D -glucose, L-glycine, and L-leucine was studied in rats maintained on r at pellet (RP) or semisynthetic diets rich in either saturated (coconu t oil; CCO) or unsaturated (n-6, corn oil, CO or n-3, fish oil; FO) tr iacylglycerols. The fish oil diet enhanced sodium-coupled uptake of gl ucose and glycine as compared with the diets containing RP, CCO, or CO . The rate of Na+-dependent leucine uptake was in the order of RP=CO<C CO<FO. In general, the solute uptake was not affected by dietary oils in the absence of sodium ions. Chronic ethanol administration to rats fed RP, CO, and FO reduced Na+-dependent glucose and glycine uptake. T he CCO diet abolished the ethanol-induced decrease in glucose and glyc ine uptake. Leucine uptake was decreased in ethanol-treated CCO or FO groups only. Sodium independent uptake of the solutes remained unalter ed upon ethanol ingestion. Kinetic studies revealed differences in the values of maximum velocity and affinity constants. These observations suggest that the type of dietary lipids has an important bearing on t he absorptive properties of rat small intestine in response to ethanol .