Intestinal uptake of fatty acids, cholesterol and decanol in ileal resected rabbits: effect of Isocal and Portagen.

Isocal, but not Portagen, is associated with increased villus surface area in control rabbits and in animals with an ileal resection. In control animals, Isocal feeding was associated with an increased in vitro jejunal uptake of short and medium-chain length fatty acids and cholesterol, whereas Portagen feeding was associated with a decline in the uptake of short-, medium- and long-chain fatty acids, but an increase in the uptake of cholesterol. In animals with an ileal resection both diets were associated with an increased uptake of long-chain fatty acids and cholesterol. These changes in lipid uptake are not explained by alterations in villus surface area or unstirred water layer resistance.