Lipotropic Effects of Liver Extract,Vitamin B12 and Choline. ∗

Abstract

Summary

With the diet employed, one cc of crude liver extract administered subcutaneously 3 times a week represents the approximate minimal effective dose of this material for lipotropic activity. The same dose of liver extract administered orally also has lipotropic activity but slightly less than that obtained on subcutaneous administration. The lipotropic effect of crude liver extract or vitamin B₁₂ concentrate is not due to the small amounts of choline, inositol and folic acid present in these materials. Crystalline vitamin B₁₂ alone is without lipotropic effect. Small amounts of choline, alone or in combination with crystalline vitamin B₁₂, also failed to prevent fatty changes in the liver.