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Observations on Folic Acid Deficiency in the Chick in the Presence of Vitamin B₁₂¹

Seven Figures

Department of Biochemistry, College of Agriculture, University of Wisconsin, Madison

Folic acid deficiency in chicks fed a purified ration was accentuated by supplying vitamin B₁₂ as the crystalline material, by injection or as a concentrate added to the ration. Extended quivering wings, body tremors and complete paralysis developed in more than 50% of the chicks which received vitamin B₁₂. Treatment with folic acid caused complete disappearance of these symptoms within 24 hours. Injection of folic acid was more effective than oral administration. None of these symptoms developed in the control groups.

Vitamin B₁₂ increased the rate of growth of the folic acid deficient chicks but did not cause marked improvement in feathering. The addition of vitamin B₁₂ to a sucrose-casein purified ration containing 200 µg of folic acid per 100 gm caused a further significant increase in growth. The relation of folic acid and vitamin B₁₂ to the previously described vitamins B₁₀ and B₁₁ is briefly discussed.

We are indebted to Merck and Co., Inc., Rahway, N. J., for crystalline vitamin B₁₂, the vitamin B₁₂ concentrate and crystalline vitamins; to the Lederle Laboratories Division, American Cyanamid Co., Pearl River, N. Y., for synthetic folic acid; to Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Ill., for haliver oil; to Wilson and Co., Inc., Chicago, Ill., for gelatin; to Allied Mills, Inc., Peoria, Ill., for soybean oil; and to E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Co., Inc., New Brunswick, N. J., for crystalline vitamin D.

Manuscript received 3 June 1949.