The Effects of Lactose on Growth and Longevity

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Abstract
Lactose caused more rapid growth of young rats than did sucrose. Adult rats became heavier on a sucrose ration than on a lactose ration when fed ad libitum, a difference attributed to greater accumulation of fat in the bodies of the sucrosefed rats. Pigs fed sucrose accumulated a greater proportion of fat than did pigs fed lactose. The characteristic results obtained on rate of growth on lactose rations are evidently not to be explained on the basis of stimulation of acidophilic organisms in the lower intestine, since dextrin has not the same influence on growth as has lactose. Lactose-fed rats, in general, lived longer than sucrose-fed rats. Feeding of excessive quantities of lactose to rats caused diarrheal conditions and retardation of growth for a short time, after which the disadvantage was practically overcome. It is suggested that these results may be directly applicable to human nutrition.

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