Cataract formation in newborn rats from feeding a liquid protein diet during gestation.

Liquid protein diets have been widely used in the United States to control weight gain. Pregnant rats were fed a standard casein diet in which liquid protein was substituted for the protein portion; all other necessary nutrients were supplied. The average incidence of cataracts in the offspring from mothers fed liquid protein was 25%. Offspring born with cataracts were successfully raised. The results suggest that nutrition may play an important role in cataract formation in newborns, and that the use of liquid protein during pregnancy may be related to ocular abnormalities in the offspring.