The Growth-Promoting Effect on the Rat of Summer Butter and Other Fats

Section D. Nutritive value of milk and milk products

“…The value of milk fat continues to command attention, especially in relation to vegetable fats. The balance of evidence now seems to be against the possession by milk fat of special nutritive properties ( (233,234,235,236,237,238,239,240); see also (32)), and the same opinion is expressed by reviewers in Scotland (241) and in Holland (242) who are not involved in the controversy. A statement of the case by Deuel will be found in (243).…”

“…They point out now, however, that the relative merits of butter and other fats vary according to their level in the diet (246), and the findings from another laboratory (247) agree with this view. Jansen and his collaborators remain of the opinion that summer-pasture butter possesses a value not shared by other fats (248,249), but papers (233,235,236,238,239,240) specifically deny this, and work reported in (250) discloses no superiority of milk fat over lard. Whatever the outcome of this controversy, there is now complete unanimity that vaccenic acid is in no way involved, being quite inactive (233,235,238,240,245,248,249,251,252).…”