Influence of medium chain triglycerides and vitamin D3 on digestive and metabolic utilization of protein in rats with intestinal resection.

The effects of different types of diet and resecting 50% of the distal small intestine on the digestive and metabolic utilization of protein were studied in resected rats and sham-operated controls. Nutritional parameters were analyzed at 1 and 3 months postsurgery. Intestinal resection led to a deterioration in digestive utilization of protein, which improved with time (3 months postsurgery). A qualitative change in the dietary fat source from 100% olive oil to equal parts of medium chain triglycerides, sunflower seed oil and olive oil and this same diet supplemented with vitamin D3 favoured digestive utilization of protein as recorded 1 month after surgery. However, the beneficial effects were maintained at 3 months only in resected rats given dietary fat in the form of 100% olive oil.