THE INFLUENCE OF VITAMIN EDEFICIENCY ON THE THYROID AND BASAL METABOLISM OF MALE RATS1

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Abstract
The thyroids of [male] rats deficient in vit. E for 6, 12 and 15 mos. were more active as shown by histological study and were heavier than the thyroids of normal controls of the same age. Correlated with these thyroid changes there was a statistically significant increase in the B. M. R. of rats maintained on the E-deficient diet for 6 mos. or more. These effects of vit. E-deficiency were largely prevented by supplementing the diet with wheat germ oil. Analyses of the E-deficient and normal diets and the drinking water showed that the E-deficient rats received only about 1/4 as much I as the normal rats. The addition of sufficient I to the E-deficient diet to provide the same amount as was contained in the normal diet, or the addition of more than this amt., maintained normal thyroid wt. and histology and the metabolic rate at the normal level. Therefore, the changes in the thyroid and increased metabolism are ascribed to a relative I deficiency rather than to a direct effect of vit. E-deficiency.