Effect of amino acids and dipeptides on ethanol absorption across the rat intestine.

Effects of amino acids and dipeptides on ethanol (50 mM) absorption were studied by in vivo perfusion of the rat intestine. All the amino acids and dipeptides tested enhanced the rate of ethanol absorption over that observed with a control solution containing an equimolar concentration of mannitol. The increase in the rate of ethanol absorption can be related to the entry of ethanol with water which accompanies the active absorption of these nutrients. Some amino acids and dipeptides like lysine, tryptophan and glycyl-phenylalanine have an additional stimulatory effect on ethanol absorption which seems unrelated to water movement.