Some factors involved in the experimental production of pellagra in rats

Abstract

A diet is given which produces pellagra in 4-6 weeks (17-25 days after polyneuritic symptoms occur). When cane sugar was left out of the diet, pellagra did not appear, but all the rats developed polyneuritis. Increased amounts of cane sugar did not increase the symptoms. Marmite protected against polyneuritis and allowed the pellagra to develop. Rats were shown to have a seasonal variation in the development of pellagra.