Effect of cassava bread supplementation on energy intake of rats.

The effect of supplementing semi-purified diet of rats with milled cassava bread was investigated. Total food intake and weight gain were measured in ad libitum and pair fed animals. Plasma triglyceride levels were determined at the beginning and end of the experimental period. Cassava bread supplementation did not increase total food intake of the animals therefore resulted in a lower food efficiency ratio (FER) of the diet when animals were fed ad libitum. When the animals were pair fed, FER was similar for both diets suggesting that cassava supplementation does not increase significantly the energy content of the diet. Addition of milled cassava bread to the diet did not modify plasma lipid levels. This results support that cassava starch is partially available to the rats. Clinical use of cassava bread is suggested for diabetic and obese patients.