Vitamin D-restricted high-fat diet down-regulates expression of intestinal alkaline phosphatase isozymes in ovariectomized rats

Intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) is expressed at a high concentration in the brush border membrane of intestinal epithelial cells. Intestinal alkaline phosphatase controls bacterial endotoxin-induced inflammation by dephosphorylating lipopolysaccharide and is a gut mucosal defense factor. Previously, we reported that IAP activity in the duodenum was significantly decreased in male rats receiving a high-fat diet with vitamin D restriction. Here, we tested the hypothesis that IAP is also regulated by a vitamin D-restricted high-fat diet in an animal model of menopause. Twenty-four female rats were ovariectomized (OVX), and another 6 female rats were sham operated. The OVX rats were divided into 4 groups and fed experimental diets: a basic control diet, a basic control diet with vitamin D restriction, a high-fat diet, and a high-fat diet with vitamin D restriction. After 28days of the experimental diets, the vitamin D-restricted high-fat diet decreased alkaline phosphatase activity in the duodenum of the OVX groups. The vitamin D-restricted high-fat diet down-regulated mRNA expressions of IAP isozymes in the duodenum of the OVX groups. These findings support the hypothesis that the expression of IAP is suppressed by a vitamin D-restricted high-fat diet in OVX rats. An adequate vitamin D intake and prevention of low vitamin D levels may be important for IAP expression in gut homeostasis.