Formulation of a liquid diet for ethanol studies involving gestation and lactation in the rat

This report describes the preparation of a liquid diet for rat studies involving ethanol ingestion during gestation and lactation. The control diet was formulated to contain 30% of energy from casein including methionine at 0.5 mg/kcal, 11.5% of energy from corn oil, 58.5% of energy from dextrose, cellulose, and adequate vitamins and minerals. Calculations for the isocaloric substitution of dextrose with ethanol are described as well as the use of xanthan gum to disperse and emulsify ordinary solid diet components. The use of this liquid diet as the sole source of nutrition for the rat during gestation and lactation produced energy intakes, gestational weight gains, litter sizes, percent survival to weaning and weaning weights similar to those expected of a conventional diet even when ethanol was substituted for dextrose to provide 30% of total energy.