Conditioned Pyridoxine Deficiency in Rats on Diets Containing Flours of Different Extraction-Rates

Abstract

THE occurrence of what is considered to be a conditioned pyridoxine deficiency in rats receiving a diet of high aneurin content has previously been reported1. The deficiency was recognized by the running screaming fits and convulsive seizures observed in the suckling rats, and the absence of fits in the litters of does which were given a supplement of 40 µgm. pyridoxine daily from parturition. In the basal group with a low vitamin B1 intake, no fits were observed, and the weight graphs of the litters were normal. The basal diet used in the experiments contained about 61 per cent of white flour, and it was observed, although not reported, that in spite of high vitamin B1 intake, no fits occurred in the litters of a few rats which had received from parturition the same basal diet with National wheatmeal flour (85 per cent extraction) substituted for white flour.