Use of polyunsaturated fatty acid diet to treat the enhanced intestinal uptake of lipids in streptozotocin diabetic rats.

Intestinal passive transport of lipids is enhanced in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. The present study was undertaken to test the effect of semisynthetic isocaloric diets, varying in saturated (S) or polyunsaturated (P) fatty acid content, on intestinal lipid uptake when fed to rats previously rendered diabetic. In vitro uptake of fatty acids and cholesterol was higher in the jejunum and ileum of diabetic rats than in control rats fed rat chow. Feeding P prevented the enhanced jejunal and ileal uptake of 18:1 and 18:2, and feeding S prevented the enhanced jejunal uptake of 18:2 in diabetic rats fed rat chow. In diabetic rats, feeding P was associated with reduced jejunal uptake of 16:0 and 18:1 and reduced ileal uptake of 16:0, 18:0, and 18:2, as compared with diabetic rats fed S. Weight gain and blood glucose concentration was similar in diabetic animals fed chow, P or S. The percentage of the jejunal wall comprised of mucosa was greater in diabetic than in control rats fed chow or P but was similar in control and diabetic rats fed S. However, this diminution in uptake was not explained by these differences. The potential long-term role of feeding P in the diminution of the hyperlipidemia associated with human diabetes remains to be established.