Enhancement of Intestinal Sugar Transport by Rats Fed Sucrose as Compared to Starch

Abstract

The weight and length of the small intestine and the intestinal transport of sugars and amino acids were determined in Wistar rats fed diets containing either 54% starch or sucrose ad libitum or in meals. The relative weight and length of the small intestine were greater after meal feeding than after ad libitum feeding. Regardless of the pattern of feeding, transport of 1 mM glucose, 1 mM α-methylglucose, 5 mM fructose, and 30 mM sucrose was significantly greater in sucrose-fed rats than in starch-fed rats. The transport of 30 mM maltose, 30 mM lactose, 1 mM leucine, and 1 mM lysine was not affected by diet. The pattern of feeding employed neither generally affected the transport rates of the sugars or amino acids nor modified the greater sugar transport exhibited by the sucrose-fed rats.