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Some Effects of Cod Liver Oil and Wheat Germ on the Retention of Iron, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Calcium and Magnesium during Human Pregnancy¹

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Department of Agricultural Chemistry Research, Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, Stillwater

The practicability of maintaining a human subject on a prescribed diet, constant in quality and quantity, for experimental purposes covering eighteen metabolic periods and 101 consecutive days of pregnancy has been demonstrated.

Cod liver oil and a wheat germ preparation were used to supplement a basic diet in order to study the effect on the retentions of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron and nitrogen under strict control of activities and environmental conditions.

The basic diet supported good retention of iron, but excellent storage was accomplished with the aid of the wheat germ preparation. The results were traced largely to the ash of the preparation rather than to the organic portion. The latter exerted a slight influence. Nitrogen retention was also improved by this supplement. Cod liver oil further supplemented the wheat germ in its effect on nitrogen and iron retention.

Cod liver oil to the extent of 15 gm. daily improved the retention of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium only slightly and irregularly. It did not raise the calcium and magnesium storage to the level previously recorded for a group of gravid women who had access to reasonable amounts of the sunshine of Oklahoma. The rate of calcium retention did not cover the fetal demands for the time involved.

Evidence of the influence of the progress of gestation on the rates of retention of the elements studied was strongest for calcium, iron and magnesium. The curves of retention for nitrogen most resembled that for iron, while calcium and magnesium of the minerals were most consistently related.

Manuscript received 29 April 1935.

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