[Effect of lactose ingestion on body development. Study in rats]

Dams (rats) and their offsprings were fed on diets containing casein (Cas) or rice and beans (RB) as protein source. The presence of lactose improved the whole animal as well as the intestinal development in Cas diet but not from RB ones. It is suggested that lactose must be maintained permanently in diet but in low concentration. In this investigation it was also observed that the small intestinal development occurs initially by enhancement of length and weight, while after weaning only weight continues to increase independently of the presence or not of lactose in diet.