THE RELATIONSHIP OF DIETARY FACTORS TO RAT SERUM ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE

Abstract

Food consumption in alloxan diabetic rats shows a positive correlation with (1) alkaline phosphatase activity, (2) blood glucose level, (3) body weight, similar to the correlation between enzyme activity and food intake in normal adult rats when they are fed a stock laboratory diet. Oral vitamin B₁₂ has no effect on serum alkaline phosphatase levels of normal or diabetic rats, nor does it modify the effect of supplementary methionine in either group. The effect of supplementary choline on the phosphatase of normal rats is unaltered by this vitamin which is reported to have transmethylating and lipotropic influences. Methionine added to animal checkers lowers phosphatase levels in both normal and diabetic adult rats, but this is directly related to lowered food consumption which always accompanies supplementation with this amino acid. The animals maintain their weights and appear to be in good condition, so it may be assumed that the lowered intake of food is adequate. Supplementary choline decreases phosphatase levels of normal rats by about 20% of initial values, and this appears to be due to choline itself and not to altered food consumption. Phosphatase levels of alloxan diabetic rats, however, are slightly but significantly elevated by supplementary choline.