STUDIES ON THE VITAMIN K REQUIREMENTS OF THE RAT

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Abstract
Young rats were reared and kept for extended periods on a vit. K-free diet. 12 of the 77 animals developed hemorrhagic tendencies associated with a low blood prothrombin, corrected by vit. K concentrates. In most of the animals the deficiency could not be produced by dietary means alone, but alteration of the drainage of bile into the intestinal tract rapidly produced it; it was corrected or prevented by parenteral or oral adm. of vit. K concentrates with bile salts. Bile fistula, jaundiced or normal rats raised for extended periods of time on a vit. K-free diet still excrete significant amts. of vit. K. Bile is a poor source of vit. K, which is not stored in appreciable quantities in the rat''s liver. Bile is apparently essential to the intestinal absorption of vit. K in the rat.

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