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The age-related decline in intestinal lipid uptake is associated with a reduced abundance of fatty acid-binding protein

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Lipids

Abstract

Aging is associated with changes in the absorptive capacity of the small intestine. We tested the hypotheses that (i) aging is associated with a decline in lipid absorption, and that (ii) this decreased lipid absorption is due to a decline in the abundance of mRNA and/or the enterocyte cytosolic intestinal FA-binding protein (I-FABP), the liver FA-binding protein (L-FABP), and the ileal lipid-binding protein (ILBP). In vitro uptake studies were performed on Fischer 344 rats at ages 1, 9, and 24 mon. Northern blotting (L-FABP, ILBP) and immunohistochemistry (I-FABP, ILBP) were performed. Aging was associated with decreased animal weights, but the surface area of the intestine was not significantly altered with age. The rates of ileal uptake of 16∶0, 18∶0, 18∶1, and 18∶2 were reduced by greater than 50% with aging when expressed on the basis of mucosal weight. This decline was not associated with reduced expression of mRNA for L-FABP or ILBP but was associated with a 50% decrease in the abundance of I-FABP and a 40% decrease in the abundance of ILBP. Thus, the decrease with aging in the ileal uptake of some FA when rates were expressed on the basis of mucosal weight was associated with a reduced abundance of I-FABP and ILBP.

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Abbreviations

BBM:

brush border membrane

F344 rats:

Fischer 344 rats

ILBP:

ileal lipid-binding protein

FAT:

FA translocase

I-FABP:

intestinal FA-binding protein

LCFA:

long-chain FA

L-FABP:

liver FA-binding protein

UWL:

effective resistance of the intestinal unstirred water layer

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nutrition and Metabolism Group, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, 205 College Plaza, AB T6G 2C8, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    Trudy D. Woudstra, Laurie A. Drozdowski, M. T. Clandinin & Alan B. R. Thomson

  2. Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec

    Gary E. Wild

  3. Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta

    Luis B. Agellon

Authors
  1. Trudy D. Woudstra
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  2. Laurie A. Drozdowski
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  3. Gary E. Wild
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  4. M. T. Clandinin
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  5. Luis B. Agellon
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  6. Alan B. R. Thomson
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Correspondence to Alan B. R. Thomson.

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Woudstra, T.D., Drozdowski, L.A., Wild, G.E. et al. The age-related decline in intestinal lipid uptake is associated with a reduced abundance of fatty acid-binding protein. Lipids 39, 603–610 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-004-1272-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-004-1272-9

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