Abstract
Since during advanced stages of vitamin B deficiency there is considerable tissue catabolism, it was thought of interest to investigate if in this avitaminosis there are any significant changes in the non-protein constituents of the blood of the albino rat.
The total non-protein nitrogen of the blood was studied in 8 pairs of rats on diets deficient in the vitamin B complex and in 2 pairs on rations deficient only in vitamin B. Weekly determinations were made. Litters were restricted to the same plane of nutrition as the pathological animals but in addition received either the vitamin B complex or vitamin B in the form of dehydrated Northwestern baker's yeast. In addition, 3 sets of animals were studied in groups of 4. The first one of each group received the vitamin B deficient diet (vitamin G having been supplied by autoclaved N. W. yeast); a litter mate received vitamin B but was restricted to the same amount of food and water as the pathological animal; a third litter mate received the same ration as the second, but water ad libitum; and the fourth litter mate received the same diet as the second, and food and water ad libitum. In these animals the concentration of the non-protein nitrogen, urea, and uric acid of the blood were determined once weekly.
The age of the animals was 50 to 68 days. The weight was from 65 to 91 gm. and the experimental period lasted from 14 to 155 days.
Summarizing the results on the vitamin B complex, there was an average concentration of 39.7 mg. non-protein nitrogen per cent in the pathological animals and 37.7 mg. per cent in the controls receiving vitamin B, but on the same plane of nutrition as the avitaminotic rats.
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