Functional and Fatty Changes in Liver During Chronic Vitamin B Complex Deficiency. ∗

Summary

A chronic vitamin B complex deficiency in dogs on a 41% casein diet produced a marked decrease in voluntary food intake, but liver function tests remained normal and liver sections showed no increase in fat. A similar chronic B complex deficiency using dogs on a 20% casein diet produced an abnormal liver function and fatty changes in liver biopsy specimens. These findings were absent in the inanition and normal control dogs. Therapy with yeast extract restored the liver function to normal and the fatty change in the liver decreased, even though protein and caloric intake were restricted.