Effect of Adding Carbohydrate to Milk Diets I. Growth and Body Composition

Abstract

Data are presented indicating that good growth and nutritionally sound rats are obtained with a diet of powdered milk or of two-thirds powdered milk and one-third added carbohydrate (glucose, sucrose, dextrin or starch) when each of the diets is supplemented with vitamins and trace minerals. In 6-week studies animals on the powdered milk diet (24.4% protein) gained approximately the same weight as those on the added carbohydrate diets (16.2% protein). The caloric intakes were not significantly different on the various diets. The water intakes on the diets with added carbohydrate were considerably less than that on the powdered milk diet. The concentration of lipid in the carcasses of the animals on diets with added carbohydrate was higher than that found in the animals on the powdered milk diet. The concentration of protein in the carcasses of the animals was about the same on all of the diets studied. The animals on the powdered milk diet laid down only slightly more protein during growth than those on the added carbohydrate diets. A diet of one-third lactose and two-thirds powdered milk supports poor growth of rats due to its high lactose content. The effects of the above diets on growth, food and water consumption, body composition, and organ weights are discussed.