QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Whatley, B. J. Articles by Green, M. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Whatley, B. J. Articles by Green, M. H.

Effect of Dietary Fat and Cholesterol on Milk Composition, Milk Intake and Cholesterol Metabolism in the Rabbit¹

Nutrition Program, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802

Sixteen female rabbits were fed one of four diets during lactation: 1) a commercial stock diet; 2) the stock diet with 5% added lard; 3) the stock diet with 5% lard and 0.25% cholesterol; or 4) the stock diet with 15% lard and 1% cholesterol. By days 30–35 of lactation, maternal plasma cholesterol concentrations were increased approximately 10-fold in group 3 and 100-fold in group 4 does compared to does in group 1. Milk cholesterol concentration was similar over lactation for does in groups 1, 2 and 3, but was approximately 2 times higher in group 4 does. Milk triglyceride and protein concentrations and milk intake by the pups were not significantly influenced by maternal diet. Average cholesterol intake of pups nursed by group 4 does was significantly higher than that of other pups. Although plasma cholesterol concentration was significantly increased in group 2, 3 and 4 pups at weaning (age 5 weeks), there was no significant effect of maternal diet on plasma cholesterol at 6, 7 or 11 weeks of age after pups had been weaned to the stock diet. Similarly, liver cholesterol concentration was increased in pups from group 4 does at weaning, but these differences were no longer apparent at 11 weeks of age. These data suggest that severe maternal hypercholesterolemia induced by dietary fat and cholesterol in the rabbit can result in increased milk cholesterol concentration and consequent cholesterol intake by the pups. However, the associated elevations in pup plasma and liver cholesterol levels at weaning did not persist when pups were weaned to a low fat/low cholesterol diet.

KEY WORDS: • cholesterol • milk composition • maternal hypercholesterolemia

¹ Supported by USDA Regional Research Project, NE-73, publication #6060 of The Pennsylvania State University Experiment Station. Data are from a thesis presented by B. Whatley to the Graduate School, The Pennsylvania State University, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the M.S. degree.

² To whom requests for reprints should be sent.

Manuscript received 11 August 1980.