Influence on Development of Suckling Young of Addition of Certain Amino Acids to Diet of Mother During Lactation.

Abstract

In studies pertaining to the influence of the diet of the mother on the development of the suckling young of rats, it was shown that a high percentage of protein and inadequate amounts of Vitamin F fed during the lactation period result in certain untoward symptoms in the young. 1 These symptoms were made manifest by extreme nervousness, muscular incoordination, sharp cries, and violent convulsions. In many cases, death followed.

In order to determine the cause of these abnormal conditions in the suckling young, lactating rats were fed a series of diets in which the amount of protein as well as the kind of protein differed. The amount of the antineuritic vitamin at the different protein levels also was varied. In some cases the Vitamin F containing substance was autoclaved at a definite pH to rule out the possible influence of other substances contained therein. Other groups of animals received low protein diets to which were added certain amino acids: glycin and alanine known to have a stimulating effect on the metabolic process, and glutamic acid, which has been shown to have no influence. The effect of Vitamin F additions with these amino acid diets also was tested.

The untoward symptoms in young of the animals receiving the low protein diets with the addition of glycin and alanine respectively were comparable to those of the young of mothers receiving high protein diets; whereas the young of the animals receiving the low protein diets with glutamic acid additions developed normally, as did the young of animals receiving the low protein diets with glycin to which yeast was added.

From these results it seems probable that the need for more antineuritic vitamin when high protein diets are fed is due to the increased metabolism resulting from the action of certain of the amino acids contained therein.