Intestinal absorption is altered in rats by diabetes and by dietary manipulation. For 5 wk rats were fed chow (C) or semisynthetic diets containing isocaloric amounts of a high content of either polyunsaturated (P) or saturated (S) fatty acids; then half were rendered hyperglycemic with streptozotocin while the remaining half served as nondiabetic controls. Studies were performed after a total of 8 wk on C, P, or S. Jejunal villous surface area was greater in diabetic rats than in control rats fed C or S, whereas the jejunal mucosal surface area was significantly greater in diabetic animals than in control animals only when they were fed S. Ileal mucosal surface area was similar in diabetic and in control rats fed C, S, or P; although ileal villous surface area was greater in diabetic than in control rats only when they were fed C. The jejunal and ileal uptake of varying concentrations of glucose and galactose was higher in diabetic rats than controls fed C or S. In contrast, the enhanced uptake of these sugars was reduced or normalized in diabetic rats fed P. The jejunal brush-border membrane (BBM) content of phospholipids was higher in diabetic than in control rats fed chow, but there was no difference in diabetic vs. control animals fed P or S in BBM total free fatty acids, phospholipids, or cholesterol. Thus feeding a high linoleic acid diet diminishes the enhanced intestinal uptake of glucose and galactose in diabetic rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)