Dietetic hepatic lesions: influence of protein level and vitamin B₂ complex deficiency on the liver of rats

Abstract

1. Attempts have been made to induce hepatic lesions in albino rats by varying the quantity of the protein (casein) and by withholding the supply of the vitamins of the B₂ complex. 2. On the vitamin B₂ complex deficient diets, the average life-span of the rats was largely influenced by the casein content of the diet, while those which received similar casein diets with yeast as supplement lived longer. 3. Fatty infiltration of the liver with progressive fibrosis (akin to human portal cirrhosis) can be more easily produced in rats by prolonged feeding of diets low in protein (casein) content and deficient in the vitamins of the B₂ complex. 4. Increasing the level of protein (casein) in the diet or supplementing low protein diets with yeast has a marked corrective effect on fatty infiltration of the liver and this is attributed to their respective methionine and choline content. 5. In general, the vitamins of the B₂ complex have a marked beneficial effect on the fatty livers when given early enough as a supplement.