Effects of Vitamin E and Essential Fatty Acid Deficiencies on the Intestinal Transport of L-Valine and α-Methyl-D-Glucoside in the Rat

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Abstract
To correlate a possible functional role of lipid-soluble factors in membranes with a requirement for the intestinal transport of amino acids (valine) and sugars (α-methyl-D-glucoside), using the in vitro everted sac technique, vitamin E and essential fatty acid deficiencies were nutritionally induced in rats. The deficiencies were confirmed by growth, physical appearance, and by photometric and chromatographic analyses of tissue. Deficiency of vitamin E decreased all the transport parameters of the amino acid while having no effect on the transport of the sugar. An essential fatty acid deficiency decreased both amino acid and sugar transport by decreasing the rate of transfer from the tissue uptake site to the serosal medium. These results indicate that vitamin E may be functional at the tissue uptake level of amino acid transport while the essential fatty acids may be required for an optimum energy supply.