Effects of protein and vitamin E on haemoglobin formation in rats

Abstract

1. Young rats were given, for 9 weeks, vitamin E-deficient diets containing either 20% or 10% casein, with and without a dietary supplement of 350 ppm D-α-tocopheryl acetate. For the next 5 weeks the casein content of the low-protein diets was decreased to 7%.2. The low-protein diets induced severe growth depression.3. The dialuric acid-induced haemolysis test showed that the rats given the 20% casein vitamin E-deficient diet were depleted of vitamin E, but that the rate of depletion on the lowcasein diet was slower.4. Haemoglobin levels were slightly decreased by the 10% casein diets after 9 weeks, but this difference was not found after 14 weeks, comparing 20% and 7% casein. Dietary vitamin E had no effect on haemoglobin levels or erythrocyte counts.