Alteration of colonic absorption by long-chain unsaturated fatty acids. Influence of hydroxylation and degree of unsaturation.

Unabsorbed dietary unsaturated fatty acids may cause diarrhea in patients with steatorrhea, but their ability to cause colonic fluid secretion is not known. The present study investigated the effect of several dietary long-chain unsaturated fatty acids on colonic absorption and morphology in the rat colon in vivo. The fatty acids tested induced concentration-dependent net water secretion. The ability of these fatty acids to induce net water secretion varied as follows: linolenic acid (18:3) > linoleic acid (18:2), ricinoleic acid (18:1 OH) > oleic acid (18:1), palmitoleic acid (16:1). Net absorption of sodium and chloride were decreased in fatty acid perfusions. Mucosal activity of sodium potassium adenosine triphosphate and adenyl cyclase were not significantly altered by fatty acids. Epithelial cell damage was noted and correlated with the ability of the fatty acid to induce fluid secretion. Unsaturated fatty acids induce epithelial cell damage and fluid secretion in the colon, their effect being related to the degree of unsaturation.