Intestinal Absorption of Vitamin A from Aqueous and Oily Menstruum

Abstract

Rats were fed vit. A in either an aqueous or oily menstrum. At intervals of 1-72 hrs. the animals were sacrificed and the sections were made of the duodenum, upper jejunum, lower, jejunum, and ileum. Vit. A absorption was detd. by fluorescent microscopy. Approx. 3 times as much vit. A was absorbed from the aqueous as from the oily menstrum. Vit. A in the aqueous menstrum penetrated the intestinal wall faster, the peak of absorption occurred at a higher level of the intestine, and remained in the villi longer, than vit. A in oil.