Carbohydrate and Fat Metabolism and Response to Insulin in Vitamin B6-deficient Rats

Abstract

Vitamin B₆-deficient rats, compared with appropriate controls, showed growth inhibition, and a decrease in total carcass lipids. The palmitoleic acid content of the liver and epididymal fat pad lipid decreased and the content of stearic and linoleic acids increased. All of these changes were partially prevented by insulin administration. The deficient animals showed hypoglycemia and a decreased ability to clear glucose from the blood after the administration of glucose, and decreased tolerance to insulin. “Insulin-like activity,” determined by the effect on epididymal fat pads, of the serum and pancreatic tissue was lower than in control animals. The epididymal fat pads of deficient animals were much more sensitive to insulin than those of controls as measured by net gas exchange and incorporation of labeled glucose into fat.