Abstract
The effects of oligosaccharides and lactose on utilization of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and iron were examined in weanling male Wistar rats. The rats were fed a casein-based diet supplemented with galactooligosaccharides (GO), fructooligosaccharides (FO), lactose (LO) or corn starch (control) for 30 or 180 days. Rats fed the LO or FO diet for 30 days absorbed calcium more efficiently than those on the control diet, and showed higher retention of calcium. Rats fed the LO, GO or FO diet for 30 or 180 days absorbed magnesium efficiently. For phosphorus, only rats fed the FO diet showed higher retention during 30 days of feeding. For iron, rats fed the GO diet for 30 days showed less absorption than those on the control diet. Rats fed GO or FO showed a lower pH value of the cecum content during 30 days of feeding, but a slightly higher pH than rats fed the control diet for 180 days.
