Effect of Dietary Lactose on Gain, Feed Conversion, Blood, Bone and Intestinal Parameters in Postweaning Rats and Swine

Abstract

SummaryTwo trials were conducted to determine the effect of lactose on performance, bone integrity and certain blood constituents in postweaning rats and swine. The effect of lactose on calcium and phosphorus and percentage ash content of the small intestine was also determined. In both trials, average daily gains were not influenced by the feeding of diets containing 30% lactose. Feed conversion was depressed in both rats and pigs when 30% lactose was fed. Transitory diarrhea was observed in rats fed 30% lactose, but not in swine. In the rat trial, no significant differences due to treatment were observed for serum Ca or P, but a linear increase (P<.01) in alkaline phosphatase was observed as lactose increased in the diet. Analysis of blood constituents from multiple bleedings during the pig trial showed that in the first 2 weeks, alkaline phosphatase was increased (P<.O1) in pigs fed lactose and slightly decreased in those not fed lactose. Lactose affected the change in serum Ca from 0 to 10 weeks (P<.05) as indicated by a marked reduction in serum Ca of pigs not fed lactose and a slight increase for those fed lactose. Serum calcium decreased in the absence of lactose but increased in the presence of lactose (P<.05) in pigs fed .4% Ca diets. In both trials, breaking strength parameters (peak force and stress) were not affected by dietary lactose. Bones from pigs fed no lactose had a higher stress to strain ratio (P<.05) than those from pigs fed lactose.

The Effect of Lactose Supplementation and Source on Feed Intake and Production Characteristics of Laying Hens

“…Hens fed 1 and 2% lactose consumed less feed (105 and 106 g, respectively) than those fed 0 and 3% lactose (109 and 100 g, respectively). This does not agree with the findings of Moser et al (1980). They reported that lactose stimulated feed intake in swine.…”

Effect of Dietary and Infused Lactose on Rat Intestinal Lymph Lipids

“…There was no apparent difference in weight gain or feed efficiency between semisynthetic high and low Lac milk groups, which sup ported the findings of Massey and Davidson [7] and Moser et al [ 16]. The rat only absorbs 47% of the Lac present in the small intestine when Lac is supplemented at 30% [17].…”

Lactose Intolerance and Bone Health: The Challenge of Ensuring Adequate Calcium Intake

“…Although Shortt et al [54] reported that lactose alone did not seem to alter bone mass or bone breaking strength in rats, and they demonstrated that lactose protected against the high salt intake-induced bone loss in weaning rats by enhancing calcium absorption. Moreover, in two trials using post-weaning rats and swine conducted by Moser et al [55], bone breaking strength was not altered by dietary lactose. However, in the post-weaning rat model, higher levels of lactose in the diet corresponded to increased skeletal calcium content.…”