Injection vs. Oral Administration of Folic Acid in the Chick

Abstract

Synthetic folic acid, 200 [gamma]/ml., was dissolved with a trace of NH40H at pH 7. Benzyl alcohol, 1.5%, was added, and the soln. was sterilized by filtration. The potency of the soln. was standardized by microbiol. assay with Lactobacillus casei. Day-old Black Leghorn chicks on a basal diet were divided into 6 groups of 8 each. Three groups were given dilution aliquots of the folic acid soln. orally in amts. of 5, 10, and 20 [gamma]/day. The folic acid was about twice as effective when given to the other 3 groups in similar dilutions by intramusc. injn. at levels of 2.5, 5, and 10 [gamma]/day. There was also a higher survival in the injected animals.