Abstract
A study was undertaken to determine the effects of Natto and steamed soybeans on body growth and the intestinal microflora of rats. Male Wistar rats (5 weeks of age and weighting 80g) were fed a control diet containing no Natto and steamed soybeans and an experimental diet containing either 10% Natto or 8.9% steamed soybeans for 31 days. Protein levels in the 3 groups were the same (15%). The results obtained were as follows: 1) Body weight gain during 31 days did not differ among the groups fed the various diets. 2) The retroperitoneal fat tissue weight per carcass weight (%) in the Natto and steamed soybean groups decreased. 3) The nitrogen balance of the Natto and steamed soybean groups increased. 4) The Natto and steamed soybean groups showed a tendency to increase in the length of the small intestine and thiamin content in the cecum. In the cecum, the pH and number of E. coli per g were decreased in the Natto and steamed soybean groups.
