Intestinal absorption of dl-.ALPHA.-tocopherol from bile salts and polysorbate 80 micellar solutions in rat.

The intestinal absorption of dl-alpha-tocopherol (VE) from various micellar solutions was studied by the in situ recirculating perfusion in rat small intestine. The perfused micellar solutions of VE were formed by sodium taurocholate (STC), sodium taurodeoxycholate (STDC) or polysorbate 80 (PS-80). The absorption ratio of VE was STC greater than STDC greater than PS-80 micellar solutions. The addition of egg lecithin (PC) to all micellar solutions caused the decrease of the absorption. The absorption ratio did not necessarily have a simple correlation with the VE solubilization in these micellar solutions. And it was also found that the absorption ratio correlated with the micellar size and with net water flux in the intestinal lumen.