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The Effect of a High Level of Dietary Leucine on the Niacin Status of Dogs¹

Department of Applied Biology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3DX, England

Two feeding trials were designed to precipitate niacin deficiency in puppies receiving low levels of niacin by adding 15 g/kg supplementary L-leucine to a diet containing 180 g/kg casein. We failed to produce such an effect and, as niacin levels were gradually reduced, the times at which control dogs became deficient (and then responded to injections of the vitamin) were not significantly different from those for dogs receiving the leucine supplement. Differences between the conditions of our experiments and of the experiment in which this effect was found are discussed. Two pairs of littermates in trial 2 died suddenly while apparently in fairly good condition, but revealing fatty livers and/or changes in heart muscle on autopsy. Similar observations have been reported by others using purified diets with dogs over long periods; there is no certain explanation.

KEY WORDS: • leucine • amino acid imbalance • niacin • black tongue • dogs

¹ Parts of the data are from a dissertation submitted by Jennifer A. Manson in partial fulfillment of requirements for the Ph.D. degree in the University of Cambridge. A preliminary report was presented to the Nutrition Society, London, May 17, 1974 [Proc. Nutr. Soc. 33, 103A (1974). The work was supported by the Halley Stewart Trust.

² Present address: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720.

Manuscript received 9 February 1978.