Thiamine, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine and Pantothenate Deficiencies as Affecting the Appetite and Growth of the Albino Rat

Abstract

The effects on the appetite and growth of rats with moderate deficiencies of thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine and calcium pantothenate were investigated by comparing a complete synthetic diet with similar diets differing only with respect to one of the vitamins. The paired-feeding method was used to distinguish the appetite and growth effects. All four vitamins investigated had a definite effect on appetite, the character of the effect being somewhat different for each vitamin. Riboflavin, pyridoxine and pantothenate had specific growth-promoting effects unrelated to appetite. Thiamine had no definite effect on the growth of male rats but improved the growth of female rats significantly. Neither appetite nor growth was improved by the addition of liver extract to the so-called complete synthetic diet.