Growth of Rats Fed Protein-Free Diets Supplemented with Purified Amino Acid Mixtures

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Abstract
Weanling rats gained approximately 40 gm per week when fed amino acid diets, devoid of protein, which was equal to the growth obtained with a 20% intact casein control diet. “Nonessential” amino acids appeared to be necessary in the diet in order to obtain an optimum early growth rate. In general, the D-isomers of amino acids did not cause an appreciable interference in growth. Growth of the animals was related to the balance or ratio of the individual amino acids in the amino acid mixture or diet. Imbalance deficiencies of histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine and valine were demonstrated with the use of the amino acid mixtures. Isoleucine was antagonized by the leucine content of the diet.

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