Effects of managing fecal consistency on body weight in rats given liquid diets with pectin via tube feeding

Rats fed a pectin-containing liquid diet had lower fecal consistency scores and a greater amount and rate of body weight gain than those fed a liquid diet without pectin. Furthermore, fecal consistency showed a significant correlation with the amount and rate of weight gain. These findings suggest that the maintenance of close to normal fecal consistency under tube-feeding management contributes to body weight gain during the feeding period.