Influence of diets on growth in the rat

The proportions of amino acids required for growth and maintenance are substantially different. Alterations in nutrient profiles of soybeans due to hydrothermic alkaline processing have been reported. The purpose of the present work was to investigate the effects of amino acid losses during hydrothermic alkaline processing of soybeans on growth in the rat. The protein sources of diets A, B and C were untreated soybean cotyledones, hydrothermic alkaline processed soybeans and casein, respectively. The animals were weighted and food intake was determined every two days during 50 days of the experimental period. Only at the end of the experimental period was it possible to distinguish the growth of rats fed diets B and C.