Does the non-absorbable fat, (sucrose polyester), interfere with the intestinal absorption of vitamin A?

Sucrose polyester (SPE) is a synthetic non-absorbable lipid. The effect of SPE on vitamin A absorption was determined by monitoring the disappearance rate of radio-labeled vitamin A from the jejunal perfusate of the rat. The relative distribution of radio-labeled vitamin A between the micellar phase and the perfusate containing SPE was determined. With SPE concentrations of 5, 10 and 20 g/l, vitamin A was concentrated in the SPE phase over the micellar phase by a factor of 4.4, 9.4, 19.8 respectively. Thus, vitamin A favored the SPE phase over the micellar phase in the distribution analysis. In vivo absorption experiments with SPE and non-SPE perfusates showed decreased net vitamin A absorption rates in the presence of SPE by 8.7% Thus, dietary ingestion of SPE results in some impairment of intestinal absorption of vitamin A, and may require vitamin A supplementation.