Amount Of Casein Research Articles

AIN-93 Purified Diets for Laboratory Rodents: Final Report of the American Institute of Nutrition Ad Hoc Writing Committee on the Reformulation of the AIN-76A Rodent Diet

For sixteen years, the American Institute of Nutrition Rodent Diets, AIN-76 and AIN-76A, have been used extensively around the world. Because of numerous nutritional and technical problems encountered with the diet during this period, it was revised. Two new formulations were derived: AIN-93G for growth, pregnancy and lactation, and AIN-93M for adult maintenance. Some major differences in the new formulation of AIN-93G compared with AIN-76A are as follows: 7 g soybean oil/100 g diet was substituted for 5 g corn oil/100 g diet to increase the amount of linolenic acid; cornstarch was substituted for sucrose; the amount of phosphorus was reduced to help eliminate the problem of kidney calcification in female rats; L-cystine was substituted for DL-methionine as the amino acid supplement for casein, known to be deficient in the sulfur amino acids; manganese concentration was lowered to one-fifth the amount in the old diet; the amounts of vitamin E, vitamin K and vitamin B-12 were increased; and molybdenum, silicon, fluoride, nickel, boron, lithium and vanadium were added to the mineral mix. For the AIN-93M maintenance diet, the amount of fat was lowered to 40 g/kg diet from 70 g/kg diet, and the amount of casein to 140 g/kg from 200 g/kg in the AIN-93G diet. Because of a better balance of essential nutrients, the AIN-93 diets may prove to be a better choice than AIN-76A for long-term as well as short-term studies with laboratory rodents.

Near Infrared Calibrations for Goat's Milk Components: Protein, Total Casein, αs-, β- and k-caseins, Fat and Lactose

A fast and inexpensive method to quantify the main constituents of goat's milk using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, is proposed. Since the efficiency of milk-to-cheese transformation depends on the total amount of casein, as well as on the relative proportions of the different types of caseins, it is desirable to quantify not only protein, fat and lactose, as is normally done routinely in the cheese industry and milk recording schemes, but also total casein, αs-, β- and k-caseins. Quantities of these main components have been measured in milk samples of three Spanish breeds of goats, using traditional chemical, electrophoretical and densitometric laboratory methods in order to produce NIR calibrations for total protein, total casein, casein fractions (αs-, β- and k-caseins), fat and lactose. Low standard errors and high coefficients of determinations have been obtained for the calibrations and validations. Goat's milk spectra are described, and the contribution of different components to the observed pattern is discussed. Due to the low cost, facility and rapidity of the analyses after the spectrophotometer has been calibrated for each milk component, the use of near infrared spectroscopy becomes a suitable tool to analyse large numbers of samples and, therefore, very suitable for dairy goat recording schemes.

A functional characterization of macrophage alterations in casein-treated B6C3F1 mice

We have previously reported that subcutaneous injection of casein, a potent inducer of the immunomodulatory acute phase reactant, serum amyloid A (SAA) protein, produces a marked suppression of humoral responses that require macrophage accessory cell cooperativity in the B6C3F1 mouse. The objective of these studies was to further characterize the immunological changes produced by casein treatment. It was observed that the inhibition of the sRBC IgM AFC response which accompanies casein treatment is dose related to the amount of casein introduced subcutaneously to the mouse. These studies, as well as those previously reported by several laboratories including our own have demonstrated that spleen cells isolated from casein-treated mice also exhibit markedly suppressed humoral responses in vitro. However, casein added directly to naive spleen cell cultures at concentrations significantly higher than those which would be found in the lymphoid tissues of the intact animal have no direct inhibitory effect on the sRBC IgM AFC response, suggesting that casein alone does not exert a direct immunosuppressive effect. Kinetics of recovery studies indicate that the casein-induced immunosuppression is readily reversible. Humoral responses are fully recovered within 3 days, once subcutaneous injections of casein are terminated. In vitro measurements of IL-1 secretion following stimulation of splenic macrophages, isolated from casein treated mice, with lipopolysaccharide indicate no significant effect on the capacity of these cells to produce this cytokine. Direct addition of recombinant IL-1 or interferon-γ to spleen cell cultures isolated from casein-treated mice also was found to be incapable of reversing the inhibited IgM AFC response. Taken together, these studies strongly suggest that the accessory cell dysfunction associated with macrophages from casein-treated mice is not due to the inability of these cells to secrete IL-1 and indicate that the dysfunction cannot be reversed by IL-1 or interferon-γ. Casein treatment was also found to markedly inhibit DTH, a cell-mediated immune response requiring macrophage accessory cell function. Interestingly, the DTH responses were only affected by casein when it was administered post-sensitization with antigen (sRBC) but prior to antigen challenge. When casein was administered prior to sensitization with antigen, which is analogous to the treatment schedule that was found to suppress the sRBC antibody response, no effect was observed on DTH.

Influence of amount of dietary fat and protein on esterase-1 (ES-1) activities of plasma and small intestine in rats.

The objective of the present study was to characterize nutritionally esterase-1 (ES-1). For this purpose, the effects of replacement of dietary carbohydrates by isoenergetic amounts of either fat or protein on ES-1 activities of plasma and small intestine were studied in male rats. Purified diets differing in the amounts of maize starch plus dextrose, casein and various types of fat were used. Plasma and jejunal ES-1 activities were found to be increased with increasing fat intakes. As to the type of fat, increasing plasma ES-1 activities were induced by coconut fat, olive oil, maize oil and medium-chain triacylglycerols, in this order. Maize oil induced higher jejunal ES-1 activities than coconut fat and olive oil, but had similar effects to medium-chain triacylglycerols. Maize oil was more powerful in increasing plasma ES-1 activity than isoenergetic amounts of casein, but with respect to jejunal ES-1 activity these dietary components were equally effective. It is concluded that the amounts of fat and protein in the diet are important determinants of ES-1 activities in plasma and jejunum.

The effect of dairy products on iron availability.

Many researchers report substantial reductions in iron availability when dairy products are consumed with solutions of iron. Yet other studies indicate that dairy products have little effect on iron availability when added to complex meals. The conflicting data may be due to differences in the technique used to measure availability, species of animal used, form of iron in the diet, and meal composition. Human studies show superior bioavailability of iron in human milk when compared with cow's milk. Definitive causes for the differences between human and cow's milk have not been identified. Human milk contains lower amounts of casein, phosphate, and calcium, components thought to inhibit iron absorption. More work is needed to identify the factors that influence iron-dairy interactions. The nutritional benefits provided by dairy products outweigh the slight inhibitory effect they may have on iron availability.

Effects of Various Dietary Protein Contents on Vitamin A Status of Rats Exposed to Prolonged Immobilization through Suspension.

The investigation was carried out to clarify the effects of various dietary protein contents on vitamin A status of rats exposed to prolonged immobilization through suspension. A rat wearing a special jacket to which metal chains were attached, was suspended for 10 days as an analogy of simulated weightlessness. Five groups of suspended rats were fed on the diets containing various amounts of casein (5, 10, 20, 40 and 60, w/w%), while control group received the 20% casein diet. Through suspending animals, a decrease in body weight gain and increase in adrenal weights occurred. Serum albumin concentration of the suspended rats fed on the 10, 20, 40 and 60% diets were the same as that of the control rats. The suspended rats showed lowered serum retinol concentrations and elevated hepatic retinyl palmitate contents without noticeable differences between the diets. The hepatic retinol levels were not clearly affected. In the suspended rats, testicular levels of retinyl palmitate and retinol significantly decreased as compared with the control. These parameters' alterations did not relate to serum albumin concentration and were independent of dietary protein levels. The results suggest that stress state may cause suppression of releasing hepatic vitamin A, resulting in a lowered serum retinol concentration, being independent of nutritional status of protein.

Primary culture of normal rat mammary epithelial cells within a basement membrane matrix. II. Functional differentiation under serum-free conditions

A serum-free primary culture system is described which allows normal rat mammary epithelial cells (RMECs) embedded within a reconstituted basement membrane to undergo extensive growth and functional differentiation as detected by synthesis and secretion of the milk products casein and lipid. RMECs isolated from mammary glands of immature virgin rats were seeded within an extracellular matrix preparation derived from the Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm sarcoma and cultured in a serum-free medium consisting of Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium-F12 containing insulin, prolactin, progesterone, hydrocortisone, epidermal growth factor, bovine serum albumin, transferrin, and ascorbic acid. Casein synthesis and secretion were documented at the electron microscopic level as well as by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay using a polyclonal antibody against total rat caseins. Numerous secretory vesicles with casein micelles were noted near the apical surface of the RMECs, and secreted casein was observed in the lumen. These ultrastructural data were confirmed by the ELISA assay which showed that microgram amounts of casein per well were synthesized by the RMECs and that the amount of casein increased with time in culture. Using immunoblot analysis it was demonstrated that the full complement of casein proteins was synthesized. In addition to casein protein, beta-casein mRNA levels were shown to increase with time. Synthesized lipid was detected at both the light and electron microscopic levels. Phase contrast photomicrographs demonstrated extensive intracellular lipid accumulation within the ductal and lobuloalveolarlike colonies, and at the electron micrograph level, lipid droplets were predominantly localized near the apical surface of the RMECs. The lipid nature of these droplets was verified by oil red O staining. Results from this study demonstrate that RMECs from immature virgin rats proliferate extensively and rapidly develop the capacity to synthesize and secrete casein and lipid when grown within a reconstituted basement membrane under defined serum-free conditions. This unique system should thus serve as an excellent model in which the regulation of mammary development and gene expression can be investigated.

Long-term oral branched-chain amino acid treatment in chronic hepatic encephalopathy: A randomized double-blind casein-controlled trial

In a double blind randomized study, branched-chain amino acids and placebo (casein) were compared as a treatment for chronic hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhosis. After a 15-day run-in period with controlled diet (45–65 g protein), the patients were administered, in addition to their diet, branched-chain amino acids (0.24 g/kg, 30 patients) or an equinitrogenous amount of casein (34 patients). One patient on branched-chain amino acids and two on casein were lost to the study. After 3 months, the index of portal-systemic encephalopathy significantly improved in patients on active treatment (from 40 [S.D. 14]% to 21 [17]), but was not in subjects receiving casein (from 37 [13]% to 36 [12]). Two or more parameters of the index improved in 24 patients treated with amino acids (80%; confidence limits, 61–92%), and only in 12 receiving casein (35%; confidence limits, 20–54%; p < 0.001). Patients who did not improve were given an alternative treatment for 3 more months. Casein-treated patients given branched-chain amino acids rapidly improved. The changes in neuropsychologic function were associated with an improvement in semiquantitative nitrogen balance, which became consistently positive in amino acid-treated subjects; there was also a mild improvement in nutritional parameters and in liver function tests. The supplementation of oral branched-chain amino acids to the diet is superior to casein as a treatment for providing adequate nitrogen supply and improving the mental state of cirrhotic patients with chronic encephalopathy.

Influence of various dry bean fractions, c.v. carioca 80, on diet efficiency and dietary protein utilization.

Raw beans, c.v. Carioca 80, were fractionated into tegument (FR0), dialyzable solids (FR1), water-soluble (FR3) and salt-soluble (FR2, FR5) protein-rich fractions, and the insoluble residue (FR4). Each of these fractions was used at a level of 8% (w/w) in the preparation of balanced diets for rats with casein as the primary source of protein. The protein contributed by each fraction substituted an equivalent amount of casein to maintain total dietary protein at 10%. Tryptophan and sulfur amino acids were supplemented to the levels of these amino acids in a 10% casein diet. The bean fractions decreased rat growth, diet efficiency ratio, protein digestibility and utilization. Autoclaving the bean fractions (121 degrees C, 30 min) prior to being mixed in the diets did improve growth. protein digestibility and utilization, but the values encountered were still significantly lower than those determined for the 10% casein diet. The differences between the casein and the mixed casein-bean protein diets could not be explained on the basis of amino acid scores.

Linoleic acid, but not cortisol, stimulates accumulation of casein by mouse mammary epithelial cells in serum-free collagen gel culture.

A two-step culture system has been developed to analyze the role of hormones in casein accumulation by mammary epithelial cells obtained from adrenalectomized and ovariectomized adult virgin mice. In the first step cells are grown inside collagen gel in medium containing insulin, epidermal growth factor (EGF), and linoleic acid for 9 days; these conditions stimulate very little casein accumulation. Following this growth phase the gels are released to float in medium containing insulin, prolactin, and linoleic acid. During this second phase the mammary cells will accumulate large amounts of casein, but only in the simultaneous presence of insulin, prolactin, and linoleic acid; in the absence of linoleic acid casein accumulation is greatly reduced. The casein accumulation is not dependent on the presence of the glucocorticoid cortisol and will occur in spite of the presence of the antiglucocorticoid agent RU 38 486. To determine if the response to cortisol observed in organ culture by other investigators might be mediated by stromal cells, epithelial cells were grown in collagen gel under fatty acid-free conditions and then cocultured with explants of mammary fat pads from adult virgin mice with or without mammary parenchyma. The cocultures were performed in fatty acid-free medium containing insulin and prolactin with or without cortisol. In the majority of experiments the mammary epithelial cells in the collagen gel accumulate more casein in the presence of cortisol than in its absence, irrespective of the presence of mammary parenchyma in the explant. Thus, mammary epithelial cells are directly dependent on insulin and prolactin for casein accumulation and indirectly dependent on cortisol by means of its effect on the stromal cells. This cortisol effect may be to cause release into the medium of linoleic acid or a metabolic product of linoleic acid from the stromal cells.

Nutrient self-selection by the omnivorous cockroach Supella longipalpa

Larvae of the brown-banded cockroach, Supella longipalpa, grown from the beginning of the third instar to the adult moult, self-selected a 15.5:85.5 casein:glucose ratio when given a choice between two diet cubes that were nutritionally complete except that one lacked protein (casein) and the other lacked carbohydrate (glucose). The self-selectors were superior in all utilization parameters to control larvae placed in similar arenas and fed on two nutritionally complete diet cubes, each containing equal amounts of casein and glucose. However, when forced to feed throughout their entire larval life on a diet containing a 20:80 casein:glucose ratio (approximating the self-selected ratio) incorporated into a single cube, larvae grew very poorly compared to others offered a 50:50 cube or an opportunity to self-select. Measurements of casein and glucose consumption throughout the entire first- and last-larval stadia showed that in each case carbohydrate intake was high at first, but decreased through the stadium, finally equalling the level of protein intake, which remained low and constant throughout the stadium. Thus, a 20:80 diet may be nutritionally unsuitable because it does not match closely enough the varying needs of the insect throughout the stadium.

Cell-cell interactions promote mammary epithelial cell differentiation.

Mammary epithelium differentiates in a stromal milieu of adipocytes and fibroblasts. To investigate cell-cell interactions that may influence mammary epithelial cell differentiation, we developed a co-culture system of murine mammary epithelium and adipocytes and other fibroblasts. Insofar as caseins are specific molecular markers of mammary epithelial differentiation, rat anti-mouse casein monoclonal antibodies were raised against the three major mouse casein components to study this interaction. Mammary epithelium from mid-pregnant mice was plated on confluent irradiated monolayers of 3T3-L1 cells, a subclone of the Swiss 3T3 cell line that differentiates into adipocytes in monolayer culture and other cell monolayers (3T3-C2 cells, Swiss 3T3 cells, and human foreskin fibroblasts). Casein was synthesized by mammary epithelium only in the presence of co-cultured cells and the lactogenic hormone combination of insulin, hydrocortisone, and prolactin. Synthesis and accumulation of alpha-, beta-, and gamma-mouse casein within the epithelium was shown by immunohistochemical staining of cultured cells with anti-casein monoclonal antibodies, and the specificity of the immunohistochemical reaction was demonstrated using immunoblots. A competitive immunoassay was used to measure the amount of casein secreted into the culture medium. In a 24-h period, mammary epithelium co-cultured with 3T3-L1 cells secreted 12-20 micrograms beta-casein per culture dish. There was evidence of specificity in the cell-cell interaction that mediates hormone-dependent casein synthesis. Swiss 3T3 cells, newborn foreskin fibroblasts, substrate-attached material ("extracellular matrix"), and tissue culture plastic did not support casein synthesis, whereas monolayers of 3T3-L1 and 3T3-C2 cells, a subclone of Swiss 3T3 cells that does not undergo adipocyte differentiation, did. We conclude that interaction between mammary epithelium and other specific nonepithelial cells markedly influences the acquisition of hormone sensitivity of the epithelium and hormone-dependent differentiation.

Interaction of mouse mammary epithelial cells with collagen substrata: regulation of casein gene expression and secretion.

Mouse mammary epithelial cells (MMEC) secrete certain milk proteins only when cultured on floating collagen gels. We demonstrate here that modulation of milk proteins by substrata is manifested at several regulatory levels; (i) Cells cultured on floating collagen gels have 3- to 10-fold more casein mRNA than cells cultured on plastic or attached collagen gels. (ii) Cells on the latter two "flat" substrata, nevertheless, synthesize a significant amount of caseins, indicating that the remaining mRNA is functional. (iii) Cells on all substrata are inducible for casein mRNA and casein proteins by prolactin, but the extent of induction is greater on collagen than that on plastic--i.e., the substratum confers an altered degree of inducibility. (iv) Cells on all substrata synthesize casein proteins at rates proportional to the amount of casein mRNA, but the newly synthesized caseins in cells on plastic are degraded intracellularly, whereas those synthesized by cells on floating gels are secreted into the medium. (v) Cells on all substrata examined lose virtually all mRNA for whey acidic protein despite the fact that this mRNA is abundant in the mammary gland itself; we conclude that additional, as-yet-unknown, factors are necessary for synthesis and secretion of whey acidic protein in culture.

Differentiation of mammary epithelial stem cells to alveolar-like cells in culture: Cellular pathways and kinetics of the conversion process

The cuboidal epithelial stem cell line Rat Mammary (Rama) 25 can differentiate in culture to droplet, alveolar-like cells that form domes, secrete small amounts of casein, and bind peanut lectin after treatment with neuraminidase. Differentiation to droplet cells is accelerated by dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Morphologically intermediate states (gray and dark) which occur in the order: cuboidal → gray → dark → dark droplet → doming cells have been identified along this pathway by time-lapse cinematography. The dark and dark droplet states are associated with increased peanut lectin binding capacity whereas casein is secreted mainly by cells in domes. Cells in cultures containing low concentrations of DMSO (<56 m M) acquire droplets predominantly in the dark state, whereas with higher concentrations of DMSO droplet formation is seen mainly in the gray state. Kinetic analysis both from time-lapse films and conventional microscopy, shows that increasing the concentration of DMSO prolongs the time spent in the gray state, decreases the time of initial appearance of droplet cells, and increases their subsequent rate of formation, without detectable effects on the rates of the remaining morphological transitions. DMSO also reduces the average rate of DNA synthesis and increases the average cell cycle time, particularly in the second (and subsequent) cell cycles after its addition. However, neither droplet nor doming cells are terminally differentiated. Thus a linear sequence of morphological states exists between the Rama 25 stem cells and the alveolar-like or more probably alveolar bud cells in vitro, and DMSO accelerates the overall conversion predominantly by truncating one of the steps in this pathway.

Dietary protein-induced changes of the erythropoietin level in rat serum.

Erythropoietin, a glycoprotein, is the primary regulator of erythropoiesis. The most convenient and sensitive assay for active erythropoietin is to measure its stimulatory effect on in vitro 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA of erythropoietin-responsive cells. An attempt with this method to estimate the erythropoietin level in rat serum, however, was unsuccesful because of the presence of inhibitory substance(s) and non-erythropoietic factor(s) stimulating 3H-thymidine incorporation. Pretreatment of the serum by heating, extraction of erythropoietin from denatured-protein aggregates, and subsequent concentration of erythropoietin in the extract with alcohol precipitation made it possible to measure the serum erythropoietin levels. Rabbit anti-erythropoietin antibody was used for a quantitative estimation of erythropoietin in the concentrated extracts. Erythropoietin levels in sera of rats fed on varied amounts of casein for 7 days were measured with these procedures to find if the impairment of erythropoiesis upon protein deprivation was due to changes in the erythropoietin level. We found that the level in protein-deprived rats was less than 1/8 that of 20% casein-fed rats, a level undetectable by the present assay, and that the serum erythropoietin increased as the protein content in the diet was increased up to 20%, then leveled off. The erythropoietin in serum decreased rapidly after protein deprivation; the level at 12hr after deprivation began was about 1/5 that in 20% casein-fed rats. Thus, the depression of erythropoiesis upon protein deprivation is primarily caused by the lowered level of erythropoietin.

The effect of changes in the amount of energy infused as volatile fatty acids on the nitrogen retention and creatinine excretion of lambs wholly nourished by intragastric infusion.

The nitrogen balance and creatinine excretion of wether lambs of 30-48 kg, wholly nourished by the intragastric infusion of nutrients, were measured in two experiments. Four lambs were used in each experiment. In Expt 1 a constant amount of casein was infused into the abomasum (640 mg N/kg body-weight (W)0.75 per d) and the amount of volatile fatty acids (VFA) infused into the rumen ranged from 0 to 670 kJ/kg W0.75 per d as six increments. Expt 2 was of similar design but two levels of casein were infused (530 and 1060 mg N/kg W0.75 per d) and, with each level of casein, VFA infused ranged from 0 to 700 kJ/kg W0.75 per d as seven increments. Daily creatinine excretion was not constant, but varied between 2-d means with standard deviations of between 7.1 and 16.5% (average 13.1%) of the over-all means. There was an apparent correlation between creatinine excretion and the amount of energy infused in six out of eight lambs. There was no effect of the amount of casein infused. In both experiments N balance was negative only when the amount of energy infused was substantially below published values for energy maintenance. In Expt 1, N equilibrium was calculated to be achieved at a gross (VFA plus protein) energy infusion level of 162 (SE 29) kJ/kg W0.75 per d. In Expt 2 it was observed that, at a given level of energy infusion, N retention was greater when the amount of energy had been increased from the previous level, than when it had been decreased. It is concluded that the animal appears to allocate available amino acids to protein synthesis, rather than to oxidation, even when in negative energy balance. It is also concluded that enhanced N retention observed when the amount of energy infused had been increased represented compensation after a period of energy restriction.

Induction of differentiation in a rat mammary epithelial stem cell line by dimethyl sulphoxide and mammotrophic hormones.

Rama 25 is a clonal epithelial cell line derived from a dimethylbenzanthracene-induced rat mammary adenocarcinoma. In the presence of the mammotrophic hormones, insulin, hydrocortisone, estrogen and prolactin, Rama 25 produces small amounts of casein and forms domes at a low rate. The rates of both these processes can be greatly increased by the addition of dimethyl sulphoxide or hexamethylenebisacetamide which are also known to induce the differentiation of Friend erythroleukemia cells. Other compounds which stimulate the differentiation of Rama 25 cells include linoleic acid and 6-thioguanine. The intracellular pathways triggering changes in the two markers of differentiation are partially separable using different combinations of hormones, prolactin and hydrocortisone being the most important for the production of casein and the formation of domes respectively. The kinetics of differentiation, as judged by the appearance of these two markers, are characterised by two phases, a fixed period of 8 h (lag phase), the length of which is independent of the dimethyl sulphoxide concentration and a second phase where their rates are dependent on the concentration of dimethyl sulphoxide. Rama 25 cells do not become committed to differentiate during this lag phase but increasing numbers of cells do so after this period. We suggest that the differentiation processes occur in two stages. The first stage, involving the inducer, commits Rama 25 cells to a new differentiated state. The second stage, involving the hormones, modulates the expression of different markers of this state. Both casein production and dome formation can be blocked by inhibitors of DNA synthesis and show reciprocal changes with the rates of cellular DNA synthesis. Thus, in its hormonal and DNA synthetic requirements for differentiation, Rama 25 cells appear to resemble some of the mammary epithelial cells of mature virgin rats.

THE USE OF AMYLASE SUPPLEMENTS IN SHRIMP DIETS

ABSTRACTTwo experiments were conducted to examine the effect of varying amounts of casein and starch relative to the amount of an α‐amylase supplement on shrimp growth and digestive processes. Amylase was supplemented to diets containing 9.5, 19.0 and 28.5% starch in a freeze‐dried nylon‐protein microcapsule form in order to circumvent potential inactivation.After a 30‐day feeding period, shrimp fed diets containing 19.0% and 28.5% starch, and supplemented with approximately 60 IU amylase/g‐dry‐diet were significantly larger (P &lt; 0.05) than diets with no amylase or a live short‐necked clam control diet. Shrimp fed 9.0% starch attained a greater mean weight than those fed 28.5% starch. These findings, evaluated collectively, indicate that a 60 IU amylase/g‐dry‐diet supplement was adequate for complete utilization of dietary starch at the 19.0% level but not at the 28.5% level.In a second study which used chromic oxide to examine the effect of an amylase supplement on the digestibility ratio of dietary starch, almost complete digestion (95.7%) was found in the group fed the α‐amylase supplemented diet containing 19.0% starch, as compared to 89.5% digestibility in the group without the amylase supplement.These studies show that up to 30% of the casein in the diet could be substituted with starch on equal weight basis without a substantial reduction in weight gain or feed efficiency, with supplementation of α‐amylase. This may allow future development of more cost effective diets.

Characteristics of Frozen Desserts Sweetened with Fructose and Lactose

ABSTRACTCombinations of fructose and lactose were used as the major sweetening agents in ice cream‐type frozen dessert formulations. In addition to the sweeteners, variable amounts of caseinate were subjected to a 23 factorial experimental design in order to evaluate the most suitable combinations of lactose (4.5% or 5.5%), fructose (7.5% or 8.5%) and sodium caseinate (2% or 3%). Comparative chemical, physical and sensory analyses indicated that a formulation using 5.5% lactose, 8.5% fructose and 2% sodium caseinate gave product acceptability similar to that of an ice cream of standard ingredient array and composition.

Effects of casein coating on utilization of dietary amino acids by fingerling carp and channel catfish.

A six week feeding study was carried out to elucidate the effects of casein coating on the utilization of crystalline amino acids (AAs) which had been supplemented to diets for carp and channel catfish fingerlings. The experimental diets were formulated to have similar essential amino acid (EAA) profiles, twtal AA contents, and other compositions to those of the control diet (25% casein and 10% gelatin). Both carp and catfish responded to the pH adjustment AA diet to a certain extent; coating the whole AA mixture with casein or the addition of 7.65% casein (total amount used to coat the mixture) to the AA mixture with pH adjustment improved growth and feed efficiency (FE) significantly in carp and almot four-fold in catfish. Addition of individually coated EAAs to gelatin instead of the uncoated EEAs improved growth and FE about four-fold in carp and almost three-fold in catfish. Also, addition of 2.5% casein (total amount used to coat the AAs) to gelatin with the uncoated EAAs improved growth and FE about three-fold in carp, but this treatment showed no significant effect in catfish. None of these treatment groups showed a performance comparable to that of the control groups. However, data from this study suggest that, in both species, utilization of an AA mixture could be improved by adding a certain amount of casein as well as couating the mixture with casein. Efficiency in utilization of EAAs supplemented to gelatin can be enhanced further by coating them individually with casein rather than by simply akking 2.5% casein.