 Larger molecules may also pass the intestinal epithelium via the paracellular pathway, although at a much slower rate and the mechanism of this transport via a "leak" pathway is unknown but may include transient breaks in the epithelial barrier.Paracellular transport can be enhanced through the displacement of zona occludens proteins from the junctional complex by the use of permeation enhancers.Such enhancers include medium chain fatty acids (e.g.