Effect of Raw Soybean Meal and Amino Acids on Pancreatic Hypertrophy in Rats

Abstract

Pancreatic hypertrophy, poor growth and lowered food efficiency result from feeding raw soybean meal to rats as sole source of dietary protein. Addition of 4 specific amino acids to raw soybean diet corrects poor growth and reduced food efficiency but does not prevent pancreatic hypertrophy. These results support the concept that decreased growth rate and protein efficiency caused by feeding raw soybean meal are due to direct stimulation of the pancreas resulting in excessive loss of critical amino acids contained in pancreatic enzymes excreted in feces.