Sex Differences in Weight-stimulating Effect of B12 in Rats on Diets of Varying Composition.

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Abstract
In an effort to determine whether the source of the calories plays a role in the wt. gain achieved with and without B12, young rats born of B12-depleted females were fed diets that were high, low, or moderate, in fat and/or carbohydrate content. The protein level was so adjusted that the percentage of calories from the protein was approx. the same in each ration. The animals were allowed to eat ad libitum. Food consumption records were kept. Half of the animals on each ration received 0.5 mg. B12 subcut. 3 times a week. Comparison of the avg. wt. gains made by these animals after 28 days and 63 days shows that subcut. admn. of B12 produced increased wt. gains in both sexes on all 4 of the rations studied. When the calories are derived primarily from carbohydrate, the vitamin appears to exert a greater effect in young, growing females than in their litter mate males. On high carbohydrate diets the wt.-stimulating effect of B12 is more marked in females than in litter mate sisters on diets of like protein content but with calories provided by fat or a mixture of carbohydrate and fat. After 63 days the trends are approx. the same as at the end of 4 wks. The most notable difference is the greater amt. of protein required per g. of wt. gain. After 63 days in both males and females, on all 4 rations, with and without B12 the amt. of protein required per g. of wt. gain is markedly greater than that required during the first 28 days on the diets.

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