The Effect of Prolonged Ingestion of Synthetic Vitamin K in Rats

Abstract

2-Methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone and 2-methyl-l,4-naphthoquinone sodium bisulfite addition product were fed to rats in concns. of 0.1-0.25% of their diet for periods up to 13 mos. The rats were bred and their off-spring were continued on similar diets through 3 generations. Also, massive doses of 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone were incorporated into adequate diets in doses up to 0.8% of the diet for 200 days. The ingestion of menadione and of the addition product in concns. up to 0.25% of the diet produced no toxic symptoms and no pathologic changes attributable to the diet were observed. On the higher levels for the 200-day period, reduction in growth rate was observed and the [male] rats receiving 0.8% menadione had low erythrocyte counts and unusually large spleens. No other pathologic conditions were found.