Effect of protein malnutrition on the intestinal absorption of monosaccharides in rats in vivo

Shobha Das*, Raj Kumar Yadav and J. Nagchoudhuri
Department of Physiology,
Lady Hardinge Medical College,
New Delhi – 110 001

( Received on February 15, 2002 )

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Abstract

The present study was planned to elucidate the role of protein malnutrition on the intestinal absorption of monosaccharides particularly – glucose and xylose, in inbred female albino rats. The experimental rats were fed with protein deficient diet containing 3% protein, whereas the control rats were given a diet containing 18% protein. The study on intestinal absorption of monosaccharides was conducted on both the groups of rats after the 7th and 15th day of receiving respective diets. The results indicated no significant impairment of glucose absorption of experimental rats fed 3% diet for 7 days as compared to the controls. However a 42% decrease in glucose absorption was observed when the animals were fed with the same diet for 15 days. The impairment was significant in all segments of intestine suggesting diminution in the absorption capacity of small intestine in malnutrition perhaps as a result of some permanent injury to mucosal cells of small intestine. Regarding xylose absorption, in experimental rats an increase of intestinal uptake was noticed in most of the segments of small intestine as compared to control rats.