Skip to main content
PMC home page
Gut logoLink to Gut
. 1980 Oct;21(10):829–834. doi: 10.1136/gut.21.10.829

Comparison of the absorption of two protein hydrolysates and their effects on water and electrolyte movements in the human jejunum.

P D Fairclough, J E Hegarty, D B Silk, M L Clark
PMCID: PMC1419373  PMID: 7192244

Abstract

Because of the generally more rapid amino acid absorption and lower osmotic pressure of small peptides compared with free amino acids, it has been suggested that 'elemental' diets should contain both small peptides and free amino acids as the nitrogen source. While studying protein hydrolysates intended for use in such diets we observed surprising differences in the absorption of amino acids, water, and Na+ during jejunal perfusion of partial enzymic hydrolysates of two proteins (lactalbumin and fish) which contained high and approximately equal amounts of their constituent amino acids in the form of small peptides. Total alpha amino nitrogen (alpha NH2N) absorption from the lactalbumin hydrolysate was greater, and individual amino acid absorption more even, than from equinitrogenous solutions of the fish protein hydrolysate, or from mixture of free amino acids simulating either hydrolysate. Net water and Na+ absorption occurred during perfusion of the lactalbumin hydrolysate, whereas net water and Na+ secretion occurred during perfusion of the fish protein hydrolysate. These differences were significant (P < 0.05 or less). As the differences between the hydrolysates are so marked, we conclude that it is unwise to assume that all protein hydrolysates are equally suitable for use in patients.

Full text

PDF

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Adibi S. A. Intestinal transport of dipeptides in man: relative importance of hydrolysis and intact absorption. J Clin Invest. 1971 Nov;50(11):2266–2275. doi: 10.1172/JCI106724. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Adibi S. A. Leucine absorption rate and net movements of sodium and water in human jejunum. J Appl Physiol. 1970 Jun;28(6):753–757. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1970.28.6.753. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Adibi S. A., Mercer D. W. Protein digestion in human intestine as reflected in luminal, mucosal, and plasma amino acid concentrations after meals. J Clin Invest. 1973 Jul;52(7):1586–1594. doi: 10.1172/JCI107335. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Adibi S. A., Morse E. L. The number of glycine residues which limits intact absorption of glycine oligopeptides in human jejunum. J Clin Invest. 1977 Nov;60(5):1008–1016. doi: 10.1172/JCI108851. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Chung Y. C., Silk D. B., Kim Y. S. Intestinal transport of a tetrapeptide, L-leucylglycylglycylglycine, in rat small intestine in vivo. Clin Sci (Lond) 1979 Jul;57(1):1–11. doi: 10.1042/cs0570001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Hellier M. D., Thirumalai C., Holdsworth C. D. The effect of amino acids and dipeptides on sodium and water absorption in man. Gut. 1973 Jan;14(1):41–45. doi: 10.1136/gut.14.1.41. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Hirschhorn N., Kinzie J. L., Sachar D. B., Northrup R. S., Taylor J. O., Ahmad S. Z., Phillips R. A. Decrease in net stool output in cholera during intestinal perfusion with glucose-containing solutions. N Engl J Med. 1968 Jul 25;279(4):176–181. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196807252790402. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Mathews D. M., Adibi S. A. Peptide absorption. Gastroenterology. 1976 Jul;71(1):151–161. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Matthews D. M. Intestinal absorption of peptides. Physiol Rev. 1975 Oct;55(4):537–608. doi: 10.1152/physrev.1975.55.4.537. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Silk D. B., Clark M. L., Marrs T. C., Addison J. M., Burston D., Matthews D. M., Clegg K. M. Jejunal absorption of an amino acid mixture simulating casein and an enzymic hydrolysate of casein prepared for oral administration to normal adults. Br J Nutr. 1975 Jan;33(1):95–100. doi: 10.1079/bjn19750012. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Silk D. B., Fairclough P. D., Park N. J., Lane A. E., Webb J. P., Clark M. L., Dawson A. M. A study of relations between the absorption of amino acids, dipeptides, water and electrolytes in the normal human jejunum. Clin Sci Mol Med. 1975 Nov;49(5):401–408. doi: 10.1042/cs0490401. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Silk D. B., Marrs T. C., Addison J. M., Burston D., Clark M. L., Matthews D. M. Absorption of amino acids from an amino acid mixture simulating casein and a tryptic hydrolysate of casein in man. Clin Sci Mol Med. 1973 Nov;45(5):715–719. doi: 10.1042/cs0450715. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Silk D. B. Progress report. Peptide absorption in man. Gut. 1974 Jun;15(6):494–501. doi: 10.1136/gut.15.6.494. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Sladen G. E., Dawson A. M. Effect of bicarbonate on sodium absorption by the human jejunum. Nature. 1968 Apr 20;218(5138):267–268. doi: 10.1038/218267a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Sladen G. E., Dawson A. M. Further studies on the perfusion method for measuring intestinal absorption in man: the effects of a proximal occlusive balloon and a mixing segment. Gut. 1970 Nov;11(11):947–954. doi: 10.1136/gut.11.11.947. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Sladen G. E., Dawson A. M. Interrelationships between the absorptions of glucose, sodium and water by the normal human jejunum. Clin Sci. 1969 Feb;36(1):119–132. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Sleisenger M. H., Burston D., Dalrymple J. A., Wilkinson S., Mathews D. M. Evidence for a single common carrier for uptake of a dipeptide and a tripeptide by hamster jejunum in vitro. Gastroenterology. 1976 Jul;71(1):76–81. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Sleisenger M. H., Kim Y. S. Protein digestion and absorption. N Engl J Med. 1979 Mar 22;300(12):659–663. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197903223001207. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Smithson K. W., Gray G. M. Intestinal assimilation of a tetrapeptide in the rat. Obligate function of brush border aminopeptidase. J Clin Invest. 1977 Sep;60(3):665–674. doi: 10.1172/JCI108818. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Whalen G. E., Harris J. A., Geenen J. E., Soergel K. H. Sodium and water absorption from the human small intestine. The accuracy of the perfusion method. Gastroenterology. 1966 Dec;51(6):975–984. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Wingate D. L., Sandberg R. J., Phillips S. F. A comparison of stable and 14 C-labelled polyethylene glycol as volume indicators in the human jejunum. Gut. 1972 Oct;13(10):812–815. doi: 10.1136/gut.13.10.812. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Gut are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES