Effect of Vegetarian Self-Selection Diets on Reproduction and the Growth of Offspring of Rats

Abstract

Rats on vegetarian self-selection diets including corn (whole kernels), wheat (whole grains), pearled barley, rolled oats, sunflower seeds, peanuts, soy beans, green peas, corn germ meal, wheat germ meal, brewers' yeast, alfalfa leaf meal, salt (NaCl), lettuce and celery cabbage were found to be generally fertile but raised less than 25% of their offspring. They raised none in winter. The growth of these young was also subnormal and severe rickets commonly developed.