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Lactose in Animal and Human Feeding: A Review

Department of Poultry Husbandry, University of California, Davis

ABSTRACT

An attempt has been made to review the available information on the uses of lactose in animal and human feeding. From the information reviewed, the following conclusions can be drawn:

1. Lactose is tolerated by the rat up to about 25% of the diet. Above this level poor growth, diarrhea, alopecia, and cataract formation result.
   
2. Young pigs and dairy calves are able to tolerate extremely high levels of lactose. This tolerance for lactose decreases with the age of the animal.
   
3. Poultry, either young or old, are unable to utilize even moderate levels of lactose.
   
4. Lactose has a definite effect on the intestinal tract of all animals. This effect is characterized by a lowering of the acidity and a change of the intestinal flora to an acidophilic type.
   
5. Lactose stimulates the synthesis of B-vitamins by the intestinal bacteria in both mammals and poultry.
   
6. Lactose feeding causes a change in the phospholipids of the tissues of animals fed diets containing large amounts of lactose.
   
7. Lactose favorably influences the absorption, retention, and utilization of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. This may or may not be related to the change in pH of the intestinal tract following lactose feeding.
   
8. Lactose is well-tolerated by the human adult and it may be used in therapy against constipation and diarrhea.
   
9. Lactose finds wide use in infant feeding and should be considered the carbohydrate of choice for the modification of cow's milk and for the formulation of infant foods. It is especially useful as an additive to human milk for the feeding of premature infants.
   
10. Lactose has been shown to improve the problem-solving ability of rats, which suggests a nutritive value not found in other carbohydrates.
    
11. Lactose has been shown to protect the rat against alloxan poisoning. Sucrose and starch did not give this protecting action against alloxan poisoning.
    
12. Lactose has been shown to be a lipotropic agent and a sparer of choline.
    
13. Lactose allows normal reproduction in the rat. This was not true for sucrose.