Omega-3 fatty acids induce biochemical changes in the small bowel of rats before and after resection

In the present study, the effect of dietary fish oil, a highly unsaturated fat source, on the intestinal mucosa before and after proximal small bowel resection in rats was studied. Forty Wistar rats were fed defined diets containing fish oil (experimental group) or corn oil (control group). After 2 weeks, animals underwent a 50 por cento proximal small bowel resection. Mucosal disaccharidases, alkaline phosphatase, aminopeptidase, protein, DNA, and TBARs levels were assessed in samples immediately before and 6 and 12 days after surgery. Disaccharidase activities were reduced in the ileal mucosa from rats in the fish oil-fed group compared to the control group before and 12 days after surgery...