Intestinal mucosa forms an important barrier towards harmful agents in the intestinal lumen, besides being the site for absorption of nutrients. Little is known about the intestinal permeability properties in chronic uremia. The permeability toward differently sized polyethylene glycols (PEGs; range 326-1,162 Da) was studied in uremic groups compared to the control groups. The urinary recovery was also recovery of PEGs was increased in the uremic groups compared to the control groups. The urinary recovery was also increased in the groups on the high-protein diet compared to the corresponding group on the low-protein diet. This study suggests an increased permeability of PEG molecules in the range of 546-1,162 Da in uremic rats and a decreased intestinal permeability after a low-protein diet in both a uremic and nonuremic state. Thus, in chronic renal failure the intestinal barrier is impaired but returns towards normal with low-protein diets.