Substrate Utilization and Maximum Swimming Ability in Rats and Guinea Pigs Fed Wheat Germ Oil 1

Abstract

Wheat germ oil has been reported to exert profound beneficial effects on humans, cattle, sheep, and laboratory animals (1), on the swimming performance of guinea pigs (2), and on human endurance, stamina and vigor (3-7). However, with the exception of the work of Alfin-Slater (8) on liver cholesterol content, essentially no studies have been reported on the beneficial effects of wheat germ oil as determined by modern biochemical techniques.

The data presented here were obtained on rats and guinea pigs fed diets containing approximately 20% protein, 5% fat, and 60% carbohydrate, plus salts and celluflour. The control (corn oil) diet contained all the nutrients and vitamins known to be present in wheat germ oil plus additional vitamins as required. In the experimental diet wheat germ oil (Viobin) was substituted for the corn oil. In contrast to previous reports, wheat germ oil did not influence swimming capacity or metabolism of various substrates by heart or liver.

Materials and Methods. Animals. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats 3 weighing approximately 200 g at the start of each experiment were maintained in individual metabolism cages. Male guinea pigs 4 weighing 200-250 g at the start of the experiment were maintained in groups of 4 to 5 in cages with raised screen floors. All animals were fed their respective diets ad libitum. Water was always available.

Experiment 1. Two groups of 12 rats each were used. Body weights were about 200 g. The control group received Diet A, a whole milk diet as described by Sarett and Snipper (9) (Table I), whereas the experimental group received the modified Diet A containing 5% wheat germ oil (Footnote a, Table I). The rats were exercised to exhaustion 5 days/week for 4 weeks at which time they were sacrificed and the heart and liver used for in vitro incubation studies with various radioactive substrates.