Effects of undernutrition on transit time and body weight of rats

Rats given 50% and 25% of their ad lib food intake were taken as undernourished, while those on ad lib intake served as controls. Water was given ad lib for all rats. Body weight of all rats was measured daily. It showed decrease in undernourished groups but not to the extent expected from calorie intake. Fifty tiny (1-2 mm) orange coloured plastic markers mixed with food were given to all rats, at 11.00 p.m., and were collected from faeces at regular intervals of 1 h each till 80% of markers were obtained. Period (hrs) for collection of 80% markers was taken as total transit time. It showed increase with increased undernutrition (ad lib 38.9 +/- 2.1 hrs, 50% cal 68.2 +/- 5.3 hrs, 25% cal 105.00 +/- 3.3 hrs). Delayed transit time in the undernourished by prolonging contact period between food and absorptive surface of intestine probably caused increase in absorption of nutrients and thus counteracted against the loss in body weight of underfed rats.