The Effect of Semi-Starvation on the Digestibility of Food in Young Adult Female Rats

Abstract

The apparent digestibilities of organic matter, protein, lipid and carbohydrate of a laboratory chow were determined in young adult female rats fed ad lib, after losing 40-50% body weight and prolonging the loss for up to 15 wk, and while recovering the lost body weight during a 2nd period of ad lib food intake. During deprivation the animals increased the apparent digestibility of crude protein but there was no significant change in digestibility coefficients of lipid or carbohydrate in relation to treatments. When food was again offered ad lib to the deprived animals they ate large amounts compared with their body weights but normal amounts when compared with their age peers. Apparent crude protein digestibility immediately returned to pre-deprivation values. No impairment of ability to ingest and digest normal quantities of food relative to age was detected.