Folate absorption in the caecum of chronic ethanol-fed rats: in vivo studies

This study was designed to determine the intestinal in vivo absorption of folic acid and methyltetrahydrofolate (MTHF) by the caecum surface at different times after 20 weeks of 30% ethanol ingestion. The absorption results were compared to the data of control rats. Chow and fluid consumption and body weight were significantly lower in ethanol-fed rats. The absorption of folic acid and MTHF by the caecum surface (pmol/cm2) was generally decreased in ethanol-fed rats at all concentrations assayed with respect to control animals (except for absorption of 0.5 and 2.5 microM folic acid at 15-min intervals). The results obtained in the present work also suggest a different absorptive behaviour of folic acid and MTHF in the caecum under the influence of chronic alcohol ingestion.