The Absorption of Amino Acid Mixtures from the Small Intestine of the Rat

Abstract

The pattern of absorption from the small intestine of the rat was determined for individual amino acids present in various mixtures. These contained 18 L-amino acids in equimolar amounts or in the ratios found in egg albumin, casein and zein hydrolysates. A marked selectivity in the absorption of the individual amino acids from the mixtures was noted. However, the relative order, based on the percentage absorbed, was found to be significantly constant and independent of the molar ratios present in the mixtures. Of the mixtures tested, the one with the ratios found in “egg albumin” resulted in substantially greater simultaneous absorption of most of the amino acids than that of the other mixtures. The “zein” mixture did not appear to be significantly poorer in this respect than the mixture simulating casein.