Abstract
A study was undertaken to determine the effects of a low concentration (1%) of lactulose on the growth and intestinal microflora of rats. Male Wistar rats (4 weeks of age; body weight 53-54g) were fed either a control diet or an experimental diet cotaining 1% lactulose for 45 days. The following results were obtained: 1) The lactulose group showed a slight decrease in body weight gain during the 45 days. There was less retroperitoneal fat tissue in the lactulose group than in the control group, suggesting that fat synthesis from starch was depressed by lactulose intake. 2) The feed efficiency ratio, protein efficiency ratio, energy efficiency ratio, apparent nitrogen digestibility and apparent nitrogen retention were lower in the lactulose group than in the control group. 3) The weight of the cecum was increased in the lactulose group. In the cecum, pH was decreased, and thiamin, riboflavin and bifidobacteria increased.
