Influence of dietary vitamin A deficiency on rat digestive & absorptive functions during diabetes mellitus.

Intestinal absorption of glucose and activities of amylases of intestinal and pancreatic origin were measured in animals vitamin A deficient, diabetic and combined state of vitamin A deficiency with diabetes. The vitamin A deficient diet caused a significant reduction in intestinal digestive and absorptive functions. On the other hand the digestive and absorptive functions were increased in the diabetic state. The combination of diabetes with vitamin A deficient diet caused a decrease in the digestive and absorptive functions along with blood glucose level in comparison to diabetic state alone. These findings suggest that the inhibition of digestive and absorptive functions observed in the combined state of vitamin A deficiency and diabetes may be due to the presence of vitamin A deficient diet.