The Effect of Vitamin B12 on the Response of Chicks to Betaine and Choline

Abstract

Under the experimental conditions reported above the addition of betaine or choline to a practical ration based on cereals and vegetable protein resulted in a significant improvement of the ration as measured by chick growth. In several experiments with White Leghorn chicks having normal body stores of vitamin B₁₂, the growth responses due to either betaine or choline supplements were approximately equal. Chicks having subnormal reserves of vitamin B₁₂, however, utilized betaine more effectively than choline. In 5 experiments with vitamin B₁₂-depleted chicks a significantly greater gain in weight resulted from adding betaine to the basal diet than from adding choline. The evidence suggests that at least one mechanism by which the chick utilizes choline is impaired by a deficiency of vitamin B₁₂, while betaine retains its effectiveness under the same conditions.