Protein malnutrition after jejunoileal bypass in the rat. Possible contribution of the exocrine pancreas and the included intestine.

A 90% jejunoileal bypass induces in the rat a protein malnutrition state which is characterized (1) by the decreased level of plasma proteins and albumins and (2) by the reduced level of most essential and non-essential plasma amino acids. In the exocrine pancreas there was a decreased content of digestive enzymes, especially of amylase, while the secretion of enzymes studied in vitro was reduced. In the ileum left in one piece, the specific activities of maltase and sucrase increased significantly while aminopeptidase was unaffected. It is suggested that exocrine pancreatic insufficiency observed after small bowel bypass in the rat might contribute to protein malnutrition (1) by producing maldigestion and (2) by inducing an imbalance in intestinal enzymes favouring a preferential absorption of carbohydrates compared to proteins, thus emphasizing the protein malnutrition state.