The Relation Between the Vitamin B Requirements and the Relative Quantity of Proteins, Fats and Carbohydrates in the Diet.

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This monograph is a detailed account of a well controlled and extensive experiment (on mice) to determine whether the optimum requirements of the different vitamin B factors (B₁, B₂, B₄) vary with the relative quantity of three energy foods (proteins, fats, carbohydrates) in the diet. The criteria used were: growth, longevity and specific symptoms of avitaminosis. In the basal or standard diet protein (purified casein) made up 31 per cent; purified rice starch, 38 per cent, and Crisco, 22 per cent. To these were added: cod liver oil, 2 per cent of the diet; a mixture of sodium chloride, 7 per cent, and 1 drop of wheat germ oil daily.

In the high fat diet Crisco replaced starch entirely and made up 50 per cent of the diet, and the protein was raised to 39 per cent. In the high carbohydrate diet fat was eliminated, the rice