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Vitamin B₆ Requirement of the Mink^1,2,

Department of Animal Science, New York State College of Agriculture, Cornell University, and the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Ithaca, New York

The requirement and metabolism of vitamin B₆ were investigated with growing mink. Purified diets containing zero, 0.75, 1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 mg/kg of vitamin B₆ (pyridoxine·HCl) were fed to 50 pastel mink kits. Mink receiving no vitamin B₆ showed deficiency symptoms (ataxia, acrodynia, convulsions, irritability and apathy) terminating in death unless relieved by supplementary vitamin B₆. Groups receiving diets containing 0.75 mg/kg of vitamin B₆ showed growth comparable to those on higher levels but developed some abnormal symptoms. In a further study 75 pastel male mink kits were fed purified diets containing zero, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6, and 3.2 mg/kg of vitamin B₆. Mink receiving the zero, 0.4 and 0.8 levels of vitamin B₆ showed deficiency symptoms. The group receiving 0.8 mg/kg showed growth comparable to the higher groups; however, only 9 animals out of 15 survived at 20 weeks of age. Forty male mink were used in two metabolism studies in which urinary xanthurenic acid, kynurenic acid and N¹-methylnicotinamide were measured. Urinary excretion of xanthurenic and kynurenic acids was sharply elevated following the ingestion of 2.5 mmoles L-tryptophan during vitamin B₆ depletion. Supplementation with 0.8 mg/kg of vitamin B₆ brought about a slight reduction in the urinary excretion of xanthurenic and kynurenic acids while the addition of 1.6 and 3.2 mg/kg brought about an immediate return to predepletion levels. Urinary excretion of N¹-methylnicotinamide was slightly increased following the ingestion of tryptophan in all dietary treatments. The lowest dietary level of vitamin B₆ which promoted growth and prevented abnormal symptoms and abnormal tryptophan metabolism was 1.6 mg/kg.

² Supported in part by a grant from the Mink Farmers Research Foundation, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

³ Present address: Prince Edward Island NewStart Inc., Montague, P. E. I.

⁴ U. S. Fur Animal Experiment Station, ARS, Ithaca, New York.

⁵ Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.

Manuscript received 14 March 1968.