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Growth and Ascorbic Acid Metabolism in Rats and Guinea Pigs Fed Cereal Diets¹

Department of Biochemistry, University College of Science, Calcutta 19, India

The nutritional values of the whole grain principal cereals, namely, wheat, rice, corn, and a millet bajra, were investigated by growth studies and studies on ascorbic acid metabolism in rats and guinea pigs. Growth was markedly retarded by feeding the rats unfortified whole grain cereals. Among the whole grain cereals, rice provided the lowest nutritional value, and the cooking of rice affected the nutritional value further. In weanling rats, ascorbic acid synthesis at the subcellular level was inhibited, and tissue storage of ascorbic acid was decreased in rats fed whole grain cereals. In guinea pigs fed whole grain cereals, the utilization of ascorbic acid was increased. Ascorbic acid supplementation at various levels indicated that the requirement for ascorbic acid increased five times in guinea pigs fed whole grain cereals. The increased intake of the vitamin was not needed when the whole grain cereals were enriched with 15% casein.

KEY WORDS: • whole grain cereals • cooked rice • fortified wheat diet • ascorbic acid metabolism

¹ The work was supported by the PL-480 project no. A7-HN-25, grant no. Fg-In-416.

Manuscript received 20 August 1974.