Effect of Increments of Tryptophan and Niacin on Growth and on the Concentrations of Blood and Liver Pyridine Nucleotides

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Abstract
Weanling rats fed a diet containing 6% of casein and 12% of gelatin exhibited a growth response to increments of tryptophan in the diet up to 0.06% of the diet. Blood and liver pyridine nucleotide concentrations also increased with increments of tryptophan. Niacin stimulates the growth of rats when the diet contains suboptimal levels of tryptophan, but has no effect when the level of tryptophan is adequate. Niacin (2.5 mg) caused a substantial increase in blood pyridine nucleotides which was not related to the adequacy of the diet as evidenced by gain in weight. Excess quantities of both niacin and tryptophan in the diet, which did not further increase growth, caused liver and blood pyridine nucleotides to increase.