Interrelationships between Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B12 and Methionine Measured in Terms of Chick Weight Gains and Dietary Metabolizable Energy Values

THERE have been many reports of interdependent nutritional roles among B vitamins and/or amino acids. The relationships between vitamin B12 and methylating compounds are especially well known. Gillis and Norris (1949) reported that the addition of vitamin B12 to chick diets reduced the requirements for methylating compounds. Briggs et al. (1950), Sunde et al. (1951) and Fox et al. (1957) observed that vitamin B12 spared methionine and vice versa. Patrick (1950) found that methionine and vitamin B12 increased chick weight gains; however, the weight gains of birds fed both supplements were no greater than those of birds receiving a single supplement. When a diet deficient in both methionine and vitamin B12 was fed to chicks it was noted that a supplement of methionine allowed a positive weight gain response whereas supplements of homocystine or homocystine plus betaine had no effect; in the presence of vitamin B12 all three supplements improved …