Influence of Viable Yogurt Microflora on Digestion of Lactose by the Rat

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Laboratory rats were fed experimental diets including yogurt, pasteurized yogurt and simulated yogurt with sucrose or lactose for 7 days followed by a single experimental meal of yogurt, pasteurized yogurt or simulated yogurt. Assays of blood galactose demonstrated that animals fed natural yogurt containing the viable culture microflora were able to absorb galactose more efficiently. Intestinal lactase activity of yogurt-fed animals was greater than in animals fed other experimental diets including pasteurized yogurt. Gastrointestinal survival of culture organisms was demonstrated in vivo up to 3 h after feeding and the viable cells resulted in more efficient hydrolysis which favored lactose digestion in natural yogurt.

This publication has 6 references indexed in Scilit: