Factors Influencing the Absorption of a Medium Chain Triglyceride

Abstract

Summary 1.The absorption of glyceryl trioctanoate labeled with C 14 in the carboxyl position (RATO) was estimated by continuously monitoring the expired radioactive carbon dioxide in 3 groups of rats. 2.In 8 normal rats an average of 32.6 per cent of the administered dose of radioactivity was recovered as C 14 O 2 in 120 min. 3.Six animals were subjected to a choledochojejunostomy and maintained for 35 days. The expired C 14 O 2 levels in 3 of these rats fell within the previously established normal range, while those of the other 3 rats were subnormal. At autopsy these latter 3 animals demonstrated varying degrees of pancreatic atrophy. 4.In 6 animals, who had undergone a choledochojejunostomy and distal common bile duct ligation at least 35 days before, significantly decreased expired C 14 O 2 levels, averaging 7.0% (P 14 O 2 levels. The addition of viokase in sodium bicarbonate, but not bicarbonate alone, to the infused lipids resulted in a significant increase (P 14 O 2 levels in all animals. 5.These experiments suggest that in the absence of adequate amounts of pancreatic lipase the intraluminal hydrolysis of this medium chain triglyceride is impaired, resulting in a retardation of its absorption.