Abstract
Summary and conclusions
1) Vit. E. bio-assays (prevention of resorption-gestation) of both methylene blue and DPPD indicated a low order of activity. However, this apparent tocopherol-like potency was due probably to a protective or sparing effect on small residual quantities of vit. E in the diet and in the body tissues. Under conditions where the diet was rigorously freed of tocopherol and the depletion period was extended, methylene blue and DPPD were found by other investigators to be completely devoid of vit. E activity. 2) At higher levels of supplementation, both methylene blue and DPPD were toxic. Methylene blue in doses of 100 mg/ day killed pregnant female rats. Feeding pregnant rats diets containing DPPD at a level of 0.0125% in the diet resulted in mortality of their young. Higher levels of DPPD induced prolonged gestation and maternal mortality. Neither BHT (0.313%) nor hy-droquinone (0.3%) produced these symptoms of toxicity, but BHT at the 1.55% level in the diet resulted in drastic loss of weight and fetal deaths.
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