Enhancement of intestinal water absorption and sodium transport by
glycerol, in the rat.
Wapnir, Raul A., Maria C. Sia, and Stanley E. Fisher.
Divisions of Perinatal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Department of
Pediatrics, North Shore University Hospital - Cornell University
Medical College, Manhasset, New York 11030
APStracts 3:0402A, 1996.
Glycerol is a hydrophilic, absorbable and energy-rich solute which
could make water absorption more efficient. We investigated the use
of glycerol (GLY) in a high-energy beverage containing corn syrup
(CS) using a small intestinal perfusion procedure in the rat, an
approach shown earlier to provide good pre-clinical information. The
effectiveness of several formulations with glycerol and CS was
compared to commercial products and to experimental formulas where
glycerol substituted for glucose (GLU). The CS-GLY combination was
more effective than preparations on the market containing sucrose and
glucose-fructose syrups (G-P and G-L) in maintaining a net water
absorption balance in the test jejunal segment (means +/- SE: CS-GLY=
0.021 +/- 0.226, G-L= -1.516 +/- 0.467, and G-P= -0.299 +/- 0.106
[mu]L/min x cm [P=0.0113]) and in reducing sodium release into the
lumen (CS-GLY = -133.2 +/- 16.2, G-L = -226.7 +/- 25.2, and G-P=
-245.6 +/- 23.4 nmol/min x cm [P=0.0022]). In other preparations, at
equal CS concentrations (60 and 80 g/L), GLY clearly improved net
water absorption over a comparable GLU-containing product (CS60-GLY=
0.422 +/- 0.136 and CS80-GLY= 0.666 +/- 0.378 vs. CS60-GLU= -0.282
+/- 0.200 and CS80-GLU=-1.046 +/- 0.480 [mu]L/min x cm [P=0.0019].
Based on the data of this rat intestine perfusion model, GLY could be
a useful ingredient in energy-rich beverages and might enhance fluid
absorption in humans.
Received 22 November 1995; accepted in final form 16 August 1996.
APS Manuscript Number A1219-5.
Article publication pending Journal of Applied Physiology.
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 19 September 1996