Effect of Galactose on the Utilization of Fat

Abstract

Rats were placed on a " single-food -choice" diet, i.e., on a diet that consists of only 1 foodstuff and water. In 1 series rats ate only galactose (gal.); in a 2d only oleo, and in a 3d, oleo and gal.; control rats had no food. Fifteen controls survived from 3 -6 days. On gal., 13 rats survived from 4-8 days. On oleo, 10 rats survived from 19-38 days. On oleo and gal., 13 rats survived from 47-92 days. The amts. of oleo and gal. eaten were compared when the rats had simultaneous, access to both foodstuffs. The total caloric intake was 261 cal./kg./ day, with the gal. contributing 39.9 cals./kg., or only 15.3% of the total. The calories from gal. could not have contributed much to the survival time. Rats with access to gal. ate more oleo than did those with access only to oleo, and much less gal. than those that had access only to gal. Ingestion of 9-19 parts of oleo to 1 part of gal. had a similar effect on survival time. Ingestion of oleo and glucose in the same proportions failed to increase survival times above those of rats on oleo alone. When a small amt. of oleo was added to gal., the rats did not live significantly longer than they did on gal. alone. The rats showed that only very small amts. of gal. cause a great increase in the utilization of the fat, oleo, and that large amts. are detrimental. The results indicate that fat does not affect the utilization of gal.