Ethanol-induced changes in lipid composition of intestinal microvillus membrane in rats fed different dietary fats

Background/Method: The effect of feeding ethanol for 5 weeks on the lipid composition of the intestinal microvillus membrane (MVM) was studied in rats fed a commercial rat pellet ( RP) diet or purified diets containing 10% coconut oil (CCO), corn oil (CO) or fish oil (FO). Results: A low cholesterol/phospholipid ratio and increased saturated fatty acid level were observed in MVM from the CCO or FO groups. Chronic administration of ethanol to RP- or CO-fed animals increased phospholipids, total and free cholesterol, and the triglyceride and ganglioside content of MVM. The free cholesterol and phospholipid content was reduced while the triglyceride level remained unaffected by ethanol treatment in the CCO or FO groups. Ethanol ingestion decreased 10: 2 and 20: 4 (n-6 fatty acids) but increased the saturated fatty acid content of MVM in all the dietary groups except in CCO-fed animals where the 18: 2 level was not affected. An elevated 18: 1, but decreased 22: 6 percentage was observed in the ethanol-fed FO group. The fatty acid composition of MVM from the CCO-fed group was least affected by ethanol treatment. Conclusion: These observations suggest that the type of dietary fat modifies ethanol-mediated alterations in MVM lipid composition. Copyright (C) 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel.