Growth Promotion in Rats by Crude Concentrates of the Bifidus Factor. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Human colostrum, charcoal eluates prepared from human milk, and hog mucin, promoted growth in rats receiving a dilute cow's milk formula as basal diet. Supplements of known vitamins or of glucose, glucuronolactone, galacturonic acid, and pectin were ineffective. Rats receiving an alipotropic ration, containing peanut-meal and casein as source of protein, have shown better weight gain after supplementation with small daily doses of hog mucin than the unsupplemented controls. The question was raised and discussed whether these beneficial effects may be related to the Bifidus Factor activity of the supplements used.