The Effect of Different Levels of Vitamin B1 and Iron on the Retention of Iron and the Fat Content of Normal Young Rats

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Abstract
Litter mate rats were given the same diets but varying amounts of iron and vitamin B1 as thiamin hydrochloride. The iron contents of thirty-six groups of three litter mates each were determined and retentions were calculated using as a control the litter mate which had been sacrificed and analyzed for iron at the beginning of the experiment. The level of vitamin B1 intake did not influence the retention of iron at the levels studied. The optimum daily iron intake for rats of this age as judged by the retention of iron and by the iron content of the bodies is not more than 0.30 mg. Intakes above this level failed to give an increase in storage. An experimental period of 7 days was found to be of sufficient length to judge retention of iron. When isocaloric intakes were given, animals receiving 39 mcg. of vitamin B1 daily gained on an average 1.1 gm. per week more than their litter mates who were receiving 9 mcg. of the vitamin. This difference was found to be significant. Of the increased gain, 93% was found to be accounted for by increases in the fat and water content of the bodies.