Effect of methionine and vitamin K 3 on hemorrhages induced by feeding a ration containing irradiated beef

Abstract

Ninety-eight weanling male rats fed a vitamin K-deficient ration containing irradiated beef were used to evaluate the effects of dl-methionine and vitamin K 3 on hemorrhagic diathesis. dl-Methionine linearly and significantly ( P < 0.01) reduced the mortality at 4, 8, or 14 weeks, and the same was true for vitamin K 3. The mortality data suggested that there may be an interaction at 4 weeks, but it was not significant at 8 or 14 weeks. Prothrombin rates (reciprocal of prothrombin time in seconds × 1000) were increased linearly and significantly ( P < 0.01) as vitamin K 3 was increased. For 0.23% added dl-methionine the rate was lower ( P < 0.01), and for 1.37% it was higher ( P < 0.01), than for no supplemental dl-methionine. Prothrombin rate was normal for rats receiving 3 μg of vitamin K 3 orally thrice weekly and 1.37% supplemental dl-methionine. dl-Methionine at 0.23% increased the body weight gains significantly ( P < 0.01). At 1.37% dl-methionine, gains decreased linearly and significantly ( P < 0.01) with increasing vitamin K 3 as evidenced by a significant ( P < 0.05) interaction between vitamin K 3 and dl-methionine.