Studies on Vitamin E in Poultry Nutrition

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Abstract
A basal diet has been developed which appears to be suitable for use in the study of uncomplicated vitamin E deficiency in the chick. The occurrence of vitamin E-deficiency symptoms in chicks receiving the basal diet was not influenced to a measurable extent by the presence or absence of pro-oxidants or antioxidants in the diet. The symptoms which occurred in chicks receiving the basal diet were, for the most part, similar to those which have been described previously for vitamin E-deficient chicks. In addition, the chicks receiving the basal diet displayed a microcytic anemia and a low reticulocyte count, indicating that vitamin E may be concerned in erythropoiesis. Necrosis of the liver does not appear to be a symptom of vitamin E deficiency in the chick. Erosion of the gizzard lining was not influenced by the level of vitamin E in the diet, but appeared instead to be due to a deficiency of essential amino acids, particularly methionine and cystine. The brewers' yeast used in these studies contained biological activity similar to that of vitamin E.