The Vitamin B Complex in Relation to Food Intake During Hyperthyroidism.

Abstract

Dogs 1 and 2 had maintained their appetite for a diet of dog biscuit for at least 3 months. After 5 gm. of desiccated thyroid were added to their daily ration they exhibited a loss of appetite and consequent loss of weight for approximately 2 weeks. During the next 3 weeks occasional administrations of vitamin B were followed by restoration of the urge to eat. The diet was then changed to the artificial one developed by Cowgill 1 and daily doses of vitamin B were administered, whereupon appetite was restored and the animals proceeded to regain their initial body weight.

Dogs 3 and 4 had exhibited the characteristic anorexia on the artificial food mixture in 23 and 31 days respectively. When 5 gm. of desiccated thyroid were added to their daily dietary, anorexia supervened in dog 3 in 12 days, while dog 4 lost its appetite in 21 days. These results harmonize with the theory of Plimmer, 2 and Cowgill and Klotz 3 that the amount of vitamin B required by the organism is determined chiefly by its caloric requirement.