Effects of various fat sources on growth and hepatic mitochondrial function in mice

1. Five parameters with biophysical meaning for Parks' feeding and growth equations showed that mice fed diets containing hydrogenated beef tallow or beef tallow had lower mature body weight than soybean oil, linseed oil or fish oil-fed groups, and that mice fed hydrogenated beef tallow or fish oil diets had a lower feed efficiency factor than beef tallow, soybean oil or linseed oil-fed groups. 2. Mice fed the diet containing soybean oil or linseed oil had higher carcass fat as a per cent of body weight, significantly different from mice fed hydrogenated beef tallow, which exhibited the lowest carcass fat. 3. The respiratory rate of state 3 and the rate of ATP synthesis of liver mitochondria isolated were highest in the group fed the diet containing soybean oil.