Vitamine studies with menhaden fish meal and menhaden oil.

Abstract

Experiments were carried out with white rats in which the value of menhaden fish meal and menhaden oil was tested as a preventive or cure of Xeropthalmia, using various basal rations. Without exception the results were as follows:

1. Fish meal fed at levels of 10, 20 and 30 per cent did not prevent Xeropthalmia, nor cure it.

2. Menhaden oil fed at levels from 2 to 30 mg. daily both prevented and cured Xeropthalmia.

3. An alcoholic extract of fish meal fed at levels which made the fat content of the basal ration equal to that of the above mentioned menhaden oil rations, did not cure nor prevent Xeropthalmia.

The fish meal used in these studies was a product that had been on hand for some time. In showing that as small an amount as 2 mg. daily of menhaden oil prevented Xeropthalmia, it became evident that originally the fish meal must have contained vitamin A, since considerable of the oil is left in the residue after pressing. However, since neither the high percentage of fish meal fed, nor the concentrated alcoholic extract was effective, it must be concluded that the vitamin remaining in meal after pressing is destroyed in later processing or in storage.

Further studies were carried out to observe the influence of fish meal and menhaden oil on calcification. For these studies the fish meal and menhaden oil were obtained directly from the manufacturer, the menhaden oil having been expressed from the sample of fish meal in question.