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Sparing Effect of Folic Acid Deficiency on the Development of Vitamin B₁₂ Deficiency in Baboons Fed a Vitamin B₁₂ Deficient Diet

Wellcome Trust Research Laboratories, P.O. Box 43640, Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa

The effect of a vitamin B₁₂ and folic acid deficient diet on juvenile and adolescent baboons (Papio cynocephalus anubis) was studied. The baboons developed clinical and hematological signs characteristic of folacin deficiency, although they were less severe in juvenile baboons. The signs disappeared when folic acid was replaced in the diet. The serum vitamin B₁₂ levels increased in all baboons fed the vitamin B₁₂ and folic acid deficient diet. When folic acid was added to the diet, the levels gradually decreased in adolescent baboons, but continued to increase in juvenile baboons. In adolescent baboons, liver vitamin B₁₂ levels decreased to a lesser extent when fed a vitamin B₁₂ and folic acid deficient diet than when fed a vitamin B₁₂ deficient diet. In juvenile baboons fed a vitamin B₁₂ and folic acid deficient diet, for 7 months and a vitamin B₁₂ deficient diet for a further 11 months, liver vitamin B₁₂ levels did not decrease at any time but were similar to those in baboons fed a vitamin B₁₂ and folic acid supplemented diet.

KEY WORDS: • folic acid • vitamin B₁₂ • baboon • vitamin deficiency

¹ Present address: R. C. Siddons, The Grassland Research Institute, Hurley, Maidenhead, Berks SL6 5LR, England.

Manuscript received 12 July 1976.