The rates of lipotropic action of choline and inositol under special dietary conditions

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Abstract
Young white rats that had subsisted for a preliminary period of 3 weeks on a diet devoid of B vits. when transferred to the same hypolipotropic ration containing an abundance of all commercially available B vits., exhibited an brupt increase in food intake and in total lipids in the liver. Following the abrupt increase in liver lipids which reached a max. after about 7 days, a slow spontaneous fall occurred even in the absence of supplementary choline or inositol. Inositol appeared to be about as effective as choline in preventing the early increase in the total lipids seen in rats on the fat-free ration during the first 7 days. As food consumption returned to normal and equilibrium conditions were re-established, inositol exerted a strictly limited lipotropic effect in fat-free diets and negligible effect upon glycerides or total cholesterol when the diet contained fat. Choline was more effective than inositol in reducing total lipids and total cholesterol in the liver, in both fat-free and fat-containing diets. Choline exerted a stronger supplementary lipotropic effect than did inositol on both lipids and total cholesterol. No data were noted that would support the statement that inositol possesses unique lipotropic properties, either under these special conditions (following depletion of B vits.) or under any other conditions.