The Thiamine Requirement of the Adult Rat and the Influence on It of a Low Environmental Temperature

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Abstract
The thiamine requirement of adult rats kept at 78°F. and at 55°F. was determined, using growth after partial depletion as the criterion of adequacy. At the lower temperature the thiamine requirement per rat per day was 50% greater than at 78°F. Food intake data obtained prior to depletion showed that the animals at 55°F. were consuming approximately 25% more calories than those at 78°F. Calculation of the thiamine requirement on the basis of the non-fat calories consumed gave values of 0.164 to 0.168 mg per 1,000 non-fat calories at 78°F. compared to 0.191 to 0.203 mg at 55°F. The increased food intake at low temperatures thus accounts for much, but may not account for all, of the increased thiamine requirement. The thiamine requirement of the adult rat per 1,000 nonfat calories consumed appears to be essentially the same as the requirement of adult human beings on the same basis.