Toxicological effects of steam-sterilized high lactose diets on conventional and gnotobiotic rats

Gnotobiotic rats fed steam-sterilized high lactose diet during 38 weeks showed a more delayed body weight gain and higher pathological changes in liver, kidneys, adrenal glands, and ovaries than conventional rats under the same conditions. Maillard-products formed by heating of a mixture of carbohydrates and proteins would be deaminated partially by intestinal microflora. Consequently the gnotobiotic and conventional rats may absorb different amounts of Maillard-products. It is possible that this is the reason for the differences between conventional and gnotobiotic rats. Hence these findings should be taken into consideration in food technology especially in heating of foodstuffs for example milk products.