Effect of Diets Marginal in Methionine and Choline with and without Vitamin B

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Abstract
The effects of diets marginal in methionine and choline, without cystine, and with varying vitamin B12 were investigated in rats for a period of 6 months. Weight gains were slower for the first 12 weeks in rats fed the diets low in methionine and choline but at 6 months these values were equal to or higher than the control groups. A high proportion (87 to 90%) of the rats fed the low methionine and low choline diets showed striking microscopic lesions in the inner cortex of the kidney and non-calcified, mucoid structures in the urinary bladder. Addition of methionine, choline and vitamin B12 to the diet prevented all abnormalities. The liver was histologically normal and unaffected by the low methionine and low choline intake. Total plasma proteins and single fractions were unaffected except for a decrease in γ-globulin in rats fed the low methionine, low choline diet.