Increased intestinal folate absorption in experimental diabetes

Folate absorption was studied in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Absorption, as determined by the rise in serum folate levels after ingesti on of either synthetic simple or dietary polyglutamylfolates, was observed to be 1.6-1.8-fold higher in diabetic rats than in normal ones. Folate tran sport in everted intestinal segments was also 60% higher in the diabetic an imals. The enzyme folyl conjugase, which breaks down dietary polyglutamylfo lates to simple absorbable forms, was induced 2-fold in pancreas 30 min fol lowing folate ingestion in both control and diabetic animals. Luminal folyl conjugase, which showed very little activity at the onset, was elevated 7- 9-fold after dietary folate ingestion in the control as well as in the diab etic group. These results indicate that the induction and release into the lumen of folyl conjugase is not adversely affected in diabetes and that the enhanced folate absorption and transport observed in diabetes might be phy siological adaptation due to increased requirements.