Influence of maternal dietary calcium levels on milk calcium and phosphorus contents, milk production and pups´s growth

WEISSTAUB ADRIANA; ZENI SUSANA N; DE PORTELA MARIA L; RONAYNE DE FERRER PATRICIA

JOURNAL OF TRACE ELEMENTS IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY

ELSEVIER GMBH

Lugar: Alemania; Año: 2006 vol. 20 p. 41 - 47

0946-672X

The aim of this study was to analyze zinc (Zn), calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) contents in milk and the lactational performance in rats fed different Ca levels. Female Wistar rats were fed during pregnancy and lactation with experimental diets containing 20% protein and high (0.90%, HCa), normal (0.60%, NCa) or low (0.20%, LCa) Ca levels. Milk samples were collected after 15 days to determine the milk mineral composition. Pup weight was recorded from birth to weaning (litter size: 6-8 pups) to determine weight gain and calculate milk production. At delivery there were no significant differences in the body weight of the pups between the groups, but at day 15, the LCa group showed lower values than both NCa and HCa groups (p