THE CALORIE INTAKE AND WEIGHT BALANCE OF HYPERTHYROID DOGS IN RELATION TO VITAMIN B1 AND YEAST

Abstract

When hyperthyroid dogs were fed a synthetic diet plus a daily yeast supplement sufficient for normal maintenance, they showed an initial increase in appetite, which reached a peak between the 3d and 4th wks. of thyroid feeding. The calorie intake then began to decline, indicating depletion of the body stores of vit. B1. More vit. B1 than was being supplied was now required. When yeast was removed from the diet the appetite rapidly fell below normal, sometimes to complete anorexia. Subcut. inj. of 2 mg. of crystalline vit. B1 restored it to the previous hyperthyroid level within 24-48 hrs. Anorexia is therefore not a primary effect of hyperthyroidism but is secondary to a deficiency of vit. B1. The weight of the hyperthyroid dogs was maintained as long as no deficiency of the B vits. occurred. The drop in food intake was followed by a secondary loss of wt.