Observations on Human Subject Subsisting Six Months on a Diet Extremely Low in Fat.

Abstract

Although it has been established that the animal organism is unable to subsist on a strictly low fat regimen,, relatively little is known concerning this type of diet as regards the human subject. The characteristic features found in rats reared on an extremely low fat diet as described by Burr and Burr are scaliness of the feet and tail, early cessation of growth, hematuria and premature death. These animals also exhibit abnormal respiratory quotients. Burr and Burr and Brown and Burr have demonstrated the essential role of linolic acid as regards this deficiency syndrome. Von Groer following the work of Aran, who had found that rats fed on fat-poor regimens failed to grow normally, maintained 2 infants on a diet practically free from fat for a period of several months. In the work of these investigators the vitamin factors were not controlled; however, it is interesting to note that one of these infants developed an eczematous eruption. Holt recently found that one of 3 infants reared on a low fat diet developed eczema. No studies have been made on the adult human subject maintained on an extremely low fat diet for a prolonged period. A normal adult was maintained on a diet consisting of carefully skimmed milk, sucrose, potato starch, baking powder, sodium chloride, orange juice, plus vitamin and mineral supplements, liquid petrolatum with anise oil and citric acid occasionally added for flavoring for a period of over 6 months. The total fat consumed per day was about 2 gm. and consisted chiefly of butter fat. Rats fed on this diet developed the characteristic features of the fat deficiency syndrome of Burr and Burr in the usual length of time.