VITAMIN E DEFICIENCY IN THE MONKEY

Abstract

Eight young rhesus monkeys were fed a purified diet devoid of vitamin E. After 6 to 13 months of feeding, all animals developed signs of vitamin E deficiency. These signs included muscular dystrophy, elevated excretion of creatine, allantoin, and free amino acids and decreased excretion of creatinine. The vitamin E-deficient monkeys all developed anemia and granulocytosis. Anemia was the first sign of vitamin E deficiency which was observed. All of these signs of vitamin E deficiency were reversed by treatment with [alpha]-tocopherol.