Relationship of Corn Diets to Nicotinic Acid Deficiency in Growing Pigs

Abstract

Two expts. are reported in which no evidence of nicotinic acid deficiency could be noted in growing pigs receiving over a period of 11 weeks diets containing 80% and 84% of corn, respectively, and supplying 0.7 to 0.82 mg. nicotinic acid per kg. live wt. per day. In a 3d expt., marked to severe nicotinic acid deficiency symptoms resulted in a 6-week period in groups of pigs receiving diets containing 0, 40% and 70% corn combined with casein and other purified materials to bring the protein level to 22.2 to 22.6%, and supplying 0.08, 0.36 and 0.47 mg. nicotinic acid per kg. live wt. per day. Definite deficiency symptoms were noted in the pigs receiving no corn; they were conspicuously aggravated in the pigs receiving 40% corn and but little aggravated in the pigs receiving 70% corn. The pellagragenic effect of corn may not necessarily be an anti-nicotinic acid effect.