THE EFFECT OF VARIED THIAMINE INTAKE ON THE GROWTH OF RATS IN TROPICAL ENVIRONMENT

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Abstract
Growth of rats in "tropical" (90[degree]F. 70% R.H.) conditions was compared with that of rats in "temperate" (72[degree]F. 50% R.H.) conditions. For each tropical group feeding ad libitum, there were 2 in temperate conditions[long dash]one fed the same diet ad libitum, the other restricted to the same caloric and vit. intake of the tropical group. Thiamine levels used/rat/day in different groups were: deficient, 2[gamma], 5[gamma], 10[gamma], 20[gamma], 30[gamma], 40[gamma] and 300[gamma]. Tropical food consumption dropped 30% to 50%, and the body wt. 15% to 25% below that of corresponding temperate groups fed ad libitum except in 2 groups. This anorexia was not due to thiamine deficiency, since it was manifest immediately upon exposure to tropics and at daily intakes as high as 300[gamma] thiamine. When the vits. were fed daily in caster cups and were not detd. by intake of the basic diet, reduction in tropical caloric intake proportionately increased the thiamine-calorie ratio. This increased ratio did not enhance their wt., since a ceiling in growth response was reached at the same or a lower level of thiamine intake than temperate groups. Rats receiving 2[gamma] thiamine or less/day showed a more gradual wt. loss in tropical than in temperate conditions. Incidence of polyneuritis was greater and appeared earlier in temperate than in tropical conditions on a thiamine deficient diet. Thiamine requirements for the growth of rats in a tropical environment (90[degree]F. 70% R.H.) are not greater and may be less than in temperate (72[degree]F. 50% R.H.) conditions.

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