| The intestine undergoes modification of its morphology and nutrient absorption in a variety of conditions such as diabetes mellitus, following abdominal radiation, following resection of the small intestine and with aging. Aging is associated with a decline in the absorptive capacity of the small intestine for several nutrients, including carbohydrates and amino acids. We tested the hypothesis that aging was associated with a decline in lipid absorption in the F344 rat, and that this decline could be corrected by manipulating the fat composition of the diet by feeding a diet of higher saturated fatty acid (SFA) content. In addition, we hypothesized that decreased lipid absorption would be due to a decline in the abundance and/or expression of selected fatty acid binding proteins and their mRNAs in the intestine.; Aging is associated with changes in lipid uptake in the jejunum and ileum. However the direction and magnitude of these alterations is dependent on the method used to express the rate of lipid uptake. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
