Regulation of intestinal glucose absorption: A new issue in animal science

Abstract

Intestinal glucose absorption occurs via Na+-dependent glucose cotransporters (SGLT1) located in the luminal membrane of enterocytes and is driven by an electrochemical gradient maintained by Na+/K+ ATPase located on the basolateral membrane. Twenty percent of whole animal energy expenditures can be accounted for by the gastrointestinal tract, most of which is the result of Na+/K+ ATPase function. Active intestinal glucose transport is regulated by a number of gastrointestinal peptides such as epidermal growth factor (EGF) and peptide YY (PYY). PYY and EGF can upregulate intestinal glucose absorption by as much as 200–300%. Of special interest is the fact that the energetic costs of intestinal tissue function can vary in relationship to the amount of glucose transported. This value termed "apparent energetic efficiency of glucose uptake" (APEE) may be of value in evaluating the energetic costs of glucose and other nutrients during various physiological and nutritional states. Recent studies suggest that intensive genetic selection for production traits in poultry may result in intestinal absorption being rate-limiting for full phenotypic expression of these traits. Further research is needed to clarify this issue. Key words: Glucose absorption, intestinal, energy metabolism, peptides, genetic selection