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Abstract

The digestive and metabolic utilization of protein were studied in intact rats and rats from which 50% of the distal small intestine was resected. The source of fat in the diet used was either olive oil or butter. No significant change was noted in the digestive utilization of protein in intact animals given either of the two diets. In resected rats however both sources of lipids produced significant drops in CAD. At the metabolic level removal of the distal half of the intestine led to a decreased retention of Nitrogen, which reached statistical significance in rats which received olive oil. Serum urea levels remained within normal limits, although in resected animals given olive oil these figures were higher, explaining the fall in Nitrogen observed in this group. Serum levels of creatinine likewise remained within normal limits under the different experimental conditions, hence in spite of the lessened retention of Nitrogen, resected rats were able to maintain homeostasis without resorting to muscular protein.