Vitamin B 12 and Sub-Optimal Levels of Pantothenic Acid in Chick Nutrition. ∗

Abstract

Summary

1. Growth of birds fed a pantothenic acid-low diet was decreased by addition of vit. B₁₂. The degree of severity of pantothenic acid deficiency symptoms observed was increased by addition of vit. B₁₂. The lowest level of supplemental pantothenic acid that supported growth and prevented deficiency symptoms was 6.64 mg/kg of diet or 17.14 mg/kg when pantothenic acid contributed by the protein is added. When the supplemental pantothenic acid level was increased to 9.96 mg/kg; no additional effect was observed. 2. The B₁₂ content of liver was increased by addition of that vitamin to the chick diet and this was proportional to the level of B₁₂ added. Additional increase in B₁₂ content of the liver was observed when the pantothenic acid level in the diet was increased. This indicates that pantothenic acid may have had a sparing effect on B₁₂ when the pantothenic acid content of the diet was adequate. 3. The pantothenic acid content of the liver was influenced only when the level of supplemental pantothenic acid was raised to 6.64 mg/kg or a total of 17.14 mg/kg or higher.