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Effect of Adding Carbohydrate to Milk Diets

II. Water Restriction¹

One Figure

Mead Johnson Research Laboratories, Evansville, Indiana

The effects of water restriction in growing rats were studied using diets of powdered milk and of two-thirds powdered milk and one-third starch, supplemented with vitamins and minerals. Groups of rats were placed on these diets and restricted each day to (1) the full allowance of water usually consumed with each diet (2) 80% or (3) 60% of this amount of water. The following observations were made:

1. When water was unrestricted (or 100% allowance), growing rats drank approximately 30% more water on the powdered milk diet (A) than on the same diet with added starch (F). The gain in weight was approximately the same on both diets.

2. Water restriction led to a greater decrease in food consumption in the groups receiving diet A than in those receiving diet F.

3. The weight gains were reduced to about the same extent on each diet when water was restricted to the same relative level of water allowance for each diet.

4. A comparison of animals receiving approximately the same amount of water with each diet showed a greater weight gain, superior food efficiency, more carcass lipid and less kidney hypertrophy in those on the diet with added starch.

5. At all levels of water intake, the weight gain per gram of protein consumed was much higher on the diets with added starch than was found on any of the levels of water intake with the powdered milk diet.

6. The composition of the livers and carcasses was not markedly affected by water restriction. The carcasses of the animals on the powdered milk diet contained less lipid than did those of animals on the added-starch diet.

7. The kidneys and adrenal glands of the animals on the powdered whole milk diet were relatively heavier than those in animals fed the added-starch diet. Water restriction increased kidney size on both diets. The relative kidney size of animals allowed 324 ml of water on diet F was about the same as that found in animals consuming 700 ml of water on diet A.

8. The implications of these findings in terms of water requirements for growth are discussed.

Manuscript received 11 October 1955.