Abstract
By suitable methods the radio-active substance of cod liver oil can be separated from the oil, and prepared in concentrated form for therapeutic purposes. Recent work by Hart, Steenbock and Hoppert 1 has suggested that such concentrates under certain conditions may fail to be effective. In a study of calcium and phosphorus balances it was observed that the addition of cod liver oil to the ration of milking goats increased the calcium retention. 2 The cod liver oil concentrate (non-saponified fraction), however, was without effect unless it was previously dissolved in oil. The results with the concentrate administered dissolved in oil were comparable to those with the non-saponified cod liver oil.
Since goats are habitually herbivora, taking little or no fat, as such, in their food, it seemed probable that quite different results might be obtained with the omnivora. Drawing conclusions from the work of Hart and Steenbock with goats, one is led to question the availability to the human organism of a concentrate unless given in oil, or in close proximity to a meal which carries fat.
In the study herein reported we have fed young rats a rachitic 4 ration which supplied fat only as it was present in the various cereals of the mixture. To this was added a cod liver oil concentrate equivalent to 1 per cent of cod liver oil. With one group the concentrate was pulverized and dissolved in corn oil (2 per cent of the ration). A second group received the same amount of the concentrate, which was mixed with water and incorporated in the ration. Control animals were given the ration to which was added 1 per cent cod liver oil mixed with corn oil. The rate of growth of the animals on these various food mixtures is summarized in the following table:
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