Replacement of Pantothenic Acid by Panthenol in Chick Diets

VARIOUS workers have reported that several compounds are capable of substituting for pantothenic acid in nutrition. Pfaltz (1943) stated that α,γ-dihydroxy-N-(3-hydroxypropyl) β,β-dimethyl butyramide (N-pantoyl-3-propanolamine, pantothenyl alcohol, or panthenol) was as effective as pantothenic acid, given orally or percutaneously in preventing achromotrichia of black rats. The corresponding (3-hydroxy-l methylpropyl)—amide showed only slight activity and γ-amino-butyric acid derivatives were inactive. Snell and Shive (1945) tested the activity of panthenol for yeast and various bacteria. They reported that it could not replace pantothenic acid for any of the microorganisms tested. In view of the general failure of microorganisms to utilize it, they stated their belief that panthenol would not prove active for most animals. In 1946 Walter stated that a microorganism had been isolated from a culture of Acetobacter suboxydans which could utilize panthenol for its growth. The compound, however, was only about 0.17 percent as active as pantothenic acid. Burlet (1944) . . .