Interrelationship of Vitamin B 12 and Choline. ∗ I. Effect on Hemorrhagic Kidney Syndrome in the Rat

Summary

1. The incidence and severity of renal injury in weanling rats fed diets low in choline and methionine were markedly decreased by supplementing the diet with a vitamin B₁₂ concentrate or crystalline vitamin B₁₂.

2. Under the conditions of these experiments, 30 μg of vitamin ₁₂ per kg of diet could replace about one-half of the supplementary choline or methionine required: for protection against kidney damage.

3. When sub-protective levels of choline were fed, the addition of vitamin ₁₂ caused a significant increase in weight gain. However, when an adequate protective level of choline was fed, no increase in weight gain was obtained from the addition of the vitamin.

4. The results established the existence of an interrelationship between vitamin ₁₂, and choline or methionine.