Mary Elizabeth Reid

Production and Counteraction of a Fatty Acid Deficiency in the Guinea Pig

Summary These experiments have shown that omission of fat from the diet of the guinea pig results in a syndrome characterized by: retardation of growth, dermatitis, marked drying of the inside of the ears and, in some animals, ulcers, loss of fur, and a tendency to a swollen, somewhat cyanotic condition of the feet. All of these symptoms were corrected by the oral administration of linoleic acid. These results afford the first demonstration of the necessity for the guinea pig of a dietary source of linoleic acid or, possibly, of some other fatty acid present in corn oil.

Nutritional studies with the guinea pig; B-vitamins other than pantothenic acid.

Summary A determination has been made of the essentiality or non-essentiality of vitamins of the B group as components of a semi-synthetic diet developed especially for guinea pigs. Clear-cut deficiencies of choline, pyridoxine, and riboflavin were produced for the first time. In addition, a dietary need of thiamine, niacin, and folic acid has been confirmed. It appears that in the presence of an adequate supply of folic acid, PABA is not essential in the diet. Under our conditions no requirement has yet been demonstrated for inositol, biotin, or vit. B12.

Nutritional Studies with the Guinea Pig. VIII. Thiamine

Conclusions The thiamine requirement of the guinea pig was estimated with a purified diet prepared with two different salt mixtures. In the first experiment an apparently high requirement for thiamine was traceable to a rapid destruction of the vitamin with the diet stored at +5°C. With a different salt mixture, designed to minimize the storage changes, a requirement of 2 mg of thiamine/kg of diet was found.

Nutritional Studies with the Guinea Pig. XI. Pyridoxine

Summary The approximate requirement of the guinea pig for pyridoxine with a purified diet containing 30% protein is 2.0 to 3.0 mg/kg of diet. The author gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Woodrow Duvall in care of the animals and that of Esther Hurley for preparation of the vitamin pre-mixes.