Butyric acid modulates activities of intestinal and renal disaccharidases in experimentally induced diabetic rats.

To elucidate the effect of feeding of butyric acid on disaccharidase activities, the specific activities of the disaccharidases were measured in the intestinal mucosa and kidney cortex of control and diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in rats using streptozotocin. Rats were fed with basal diet containing wheat bran (5%) as a source of insoluble dietary fiber and guar gum (2.5%) as a source of soluble dietary fiber. The experimental group received butyric acid at 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg body weight/day. Increased activities of intestinal maltase, sucrase and lactase in diabetic rats were significantly reduced in fiber-fed diabetic group. Supplementation of butyric acid at 500 mg/kg body weight/day showed a further decrease in their activities. The activity of disaccharidases in renal tissue was decreased in diabetic rats and was significantly improved in fiber-fed diabetic group. Butyric acid feeding at 500 mg/kg body weight/day showed further improvement in their activities.