Effect of hydrophobic detergent on lipid absorption in the rat and on lipid and sterol balance in the swine.

The effects of hydrophobic detergent on fat absorption in the rat were determined under two conditions. In the first, a high dose of detergent was given in a test lipid meal to rats not previously exposed to this agent. A marked delay in digestion of triglyceride in association with malabsorption was observed. In the second, a relatively small dose of detergent was given to rats pretreated with dietary supplement of detergent. No delay of digestion or uptake was observed but absorbed, reesterified lipid was noted to accumulate in the mucosa. Morphologic studies showed abnormal collections of fat droplets in the enterocytes. Sterol and fat balance studies were done on swine on chronic dietary detergent supplement. Mild steatorrhea with excess fecal excretion of neutral sterols was observed. It is concluded that hydrophobic detergents can have an inhibitory effect on both intraluminal and intracellular events of fat absorption.