Effect of Total Body Irradiation on Absorption of Sugars From the Small Intestine

¹ From the Evans Memorial, Massachusetts Memorial Hospitals, and the Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts

A study was made in rats on the effect of large doses of total body x-irradiation on the intestinal absorption of glucose, fructose and xylose administered intraduodenally. Irradiation caused a slight but highly significant decrease in absorption of all three sugars when given singly. These studies do not indicate selective inhibition of any specific mechanism involved in the absorption of these three sugars. No difference attributable to sex exists between the postirradiation absorption rates. When mixtures of the three sugars were given, a questionably significant decrease was noted in all absorption rates, with the exception of xylose in the female rats. In this group absorption of xylose was unaffected by irradiation. In rats not exposed to irradiation, the relative absorption rates of the three sugars are markedly different when given singly and when given in a mixture.