A Rapid and Reliable Test for Vitamin D

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Abstract
The observation of Zucker and Matzner that the feces of rachitic rats become alkaline was studied as a means of testing for vitamin D. Rats were placed on a rachitic diet in cages having a false screen bottom with mesh such that the feces were retained but the food fell through. A 2% water suspension of disintegrated, non-urine-contaminated feces is filtered through glass wool and the p H determined electrometrically. When the p H reaches 7.2-7.3 after 10-15 days, the administration of antirachitic will reduce the p H to the acid side of neutrality. Cod liver oil, irradiated cholesterol, or direct irradiation of the animal with ultraviolet light exerted this effect, whereas non-antirachitic oils, such as glycerol, liquid paraffin, olive oil solutions of crude cholesterol from cod liver oil, or olive oil solutions of recrystallized cholesterol did not reduce the p H.

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