“Hypervitaminosis” and “vitamin balance”

Abstract

Young rats lost weight rapidly and died, with typical lesions described elsewhere, when receiving synthetic diets containing 0.1% of an irradiated (but not non-irradiated, over-irradiated, or heated) ergosterol (i.e., about 100,000 times a minimal protective dose). There was loss of appetite, ill condition of coats, diarrhea, and inanition. When the vitamin B (marmite) allowance was increased to 4 times the normally adequate level no appreciable alleviation of these symptoms resulted. In 2 cases where still further vitamin B (and C) (wheat-germ extract plus orange juice) was administered, loss of weight was prevented. Results due to "toxicity" are contrasted with those due to mere loss of appetite. Reference is made to the apparent ability of the rat to discriminate in its choice of diets. In a quantitative study rats were found to refuse food overloaded with irradiated ergosterol (5%). Rats were found to have lower growth rates compared with litter mates, and to have rough coats, when cod liver oil was substituted for 15% of arachis oil (inactive) in a ration containing restricted allowances of vitamin B complex. In confirmation of Hartwell and of Sure, it was observed that normal gestation always failed in rats receiving a diet containing 15% of cod liver oil. Rats receiving massive doses of vitamins A and D concentrate from cod liver oil, in conjunction with a diet deficient in the vitamin B complex, developed loss of hair and severe skin lesions.