QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Warner, R. G. Articles by Abernathy, R. P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Warner, R. G. Articles by Abernathy, R. P.

Niacin Requirement of Growing Mink¹

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

In studies investigating the niacin requirement and metabolism of growing mink over 180 mink kits receiving a purified diet have shown that the mink requires a dietary source of niacin. The requirement lies between 10 and 20 mg/kg of diet. Survival time on a deficient diet increases with age. Supplementation of a niacin-free diet with either 0.16 or 0.32% DL-tryptophan had no effect in alleviating the niacin deficiency. The mink apparently cannot convert sufficient tryptophan to meet its niacin requirement. Symptoms of niacin deficiency are nonspecific and include anorexia, loss of weight, weakness, coma and death. No discoloration of the buccal mucosa was observed.

² Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.

³ U. S. Fur Animal Experiment Station, ARS, Ithaca, New York.

⁴ Present address: Brown and Gilman Ltd., Dublin I, Ireland.

⁵ Present address: Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, Virginia.

Manuscript received 14 March 1968.