Interrelationship of Vitamin B 12 and Choline. II. Effect on Growth of the Chick. ∗

Abstract

Summary

1. Vit. B₁₂ was fed to Leghorn chicks receiving a choline-low basal diet supplemented with .6%percnt;, .2%percnt;, .1%percnt;, and .05%percnt; choline chloride. The 14-day increment in weight gain over the controls that did not receive vitamin B₁₂ was 26 g, 32 g, 63 g, and 21 g, respectively.

2. Crystalline vit. B₁₂ fed at a level of 15 μg per kg of diet and at a choline level of .1%percnt; was as effective as vit. B₁₂ concentrate in a 2-week feeding period.

3. The choline requirement of chicks under the conditions of these experiments was markedly reduced by the supplementation of the diet with vit. B₁₂.

4. It appears that dietary choline has a significant sparing action on vit. B₁₂.