Effect of Vit. E on Myoglobin Content of Guinea Pig Skeletal Muscle. ∗

Summary

A marked decline in myoglobin concentration has been demonstrated in gastrocnemius and masseter muscles of guinea pigs maintained longer than 15 days on a Vit. E-deficient diet. Supplementation with Vit. E after 14 days on a deficient diet reduces the magnitude of concentration change and, indeed, stabilizes pigment concentration at control levels. No significant difference between control and experimental animals in regard to water content, muscle weight or body weight was evident from 21 and 30 day dietary regimen studies. Non-collagen nitrogen was significantly depleted only in the gastrocnemii of the 21 day deficient animals.