The irradiation-associated decline in the in vivo uptake of glucose observed in rats fed fish oil is prevented by feeding a diet enriched in saturated fatty acids.

Previous in vitro studies have shown that abdominal irradiation diminishes the uptake of many nutrients and that the extent of this effect can be modified by varying the type of dietary fatty acid. This study was undertaken to determine (1) the effect of dietary fish oil fatty acids (FO) on the in vivo absorption of D-glucose and (2) the effect of feeding isocaloric diets containing FO or beef tallow (BT) on the in vivo uptake of glucose 2 weeks after a single 600 cGy exposure to abdominal irradiation from a 137Cs source. Feeding FO reduced the jejunal and ileal maximal transport rate (Vmax) and Michaelis constant (Km) for glucose uptake in nonirradiated control animals.

Dietary omega-3 fatty acids partially correct the enhanced in vivo uptake of glucose in diabetic rats.

This study was undertaken to determine the effects of feeding isocaloric semisynthetic diets high in saturated fatty acids from beef tallow (BT) or high in polyunsaturated fatty acids from fish oil (FO), on the clinical control and the in vivo uptake of varying concentrations of D-glucose into perfused jejunal and ileal loops of intestine of rats with streptozotocin diabetes. Jejunal and ileal weights were greater in diabetic than in control rats fed BT or FO, but the percentage of the intestinal wall comprised of mucosa was lower, resulting in a similar mass of mucosa in diabetic and in control animals. Feeding FO increased the jejunal unstirred water layer (UWL) resistance in control rats but decreased ileal UWL in diabetic animals; UWL was lower in diabetic than in control rats fed FO but was similar in those fed BT.