Folate deficiency in rats fed diets containing free amino acids or intact proteins. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Development of folate deficiency (FD) was evaluated in weanling rats fed diets containing mixtures of free amino acids or of vitamin-free casein and gelatin as sources of dietary nitrogen. FD could be produced in 21 d with amino acid diets that promoted maximum growth rate, were completely devoid of folate and contained 1% succinylsulfathiazole. Growth retardation and blood dyscrasia associated with FD could not be demonstrated in rats fed diets containing casein and gelatin as nitrogen sources because the vitamin-free casein contained low but measurable levels of folate. The most effective protocol to produce experimental FD in rats is to feed a folate-free diet that otherwise supports maximum growth in young animals. Additional modifications such as use of methotrexate or amino acid-imbalanced or protein-deficient diets are unnecessary.

published proceedings

  • J Nutr

author list (cited authors)

  • Walzem, R. L., & Clifford, A. J.

citation count

  • 94

complete list of authors

  • Walzem, RL||Clifford, AJ

publication date

  • January 1988