Fatty Acids in the Lumen of the Small Intestine of Man Following a Lipid-containing Meal

Abstract

Eastwood, M. A. & Hamilton, Desiree. 1970. Fatty Acids in the Lumen of the Small Intestine of Man Following a Lipid-containing Meal. Scand. J. Gastroent. 5, 225-230.

Experiments in man are described in which the concentrations of free fatty acids along the small intestine are studied for 3 hours following the ingestion of a triglyceride-containing test meal, using a transintestinal intubation technique. Despite differences in the gastric emptying time for fat and differing concentrations of free fatty acids along the small intestine, the molar ratios of the principal fatty acids found along the small intestine are significantly related to those of the dietary glyceride. This relationship is found as far distal as 225 cm from the nose. The molar ratios between the anticipated and found concentrations of the individual free fatty acids show that stearic acid is retained in the lumen of the small intestine to a greater extent than lauric, palmitic, and oleic acids.

Key-words:

• Absorption
• fatty acids
• small intestine