[Effects of excess folic acid on growth and metabolism of water-soluble vitamins in weaning rats].
In order to determine the tolerable upper intake level of folic acid in humans, we investigated the effects of excessive folic acid administration on the body weight gain, food intake, tissue weight, and metabolism of B-group vitamins in weaning rats. The rats were freely fed ordinary diet containing 0.0002% folic acid (control diet) or the same diet with 0.01%, 0.1%, or 1.0% folic acid for 29 days. The body weight gains and food intakes did not differ among the four groups. Diarrhea was not seen even in the 1.0% group. Excess folic acid did not affect the tissue weights of the brain, heart, liver, kidney, spleen, lung, or testis, or urinary excretion of other B-group vitamins. These results clearly showed that feeding a diet containing up to 1.0% folic acid did not affect the food intake, body weight gain, tissue weight, or urinary excretion of B-group vitamins in weaning rats.
Fukuwatari
Tsutomu
T
Department of Life Style Studies, The University of Shiga Prefecture, Shiga, Japan.
Shibata
Katsumi
K
D000818:Animals; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014815:Vitamins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
D014815:Vitamins; D005492:Folic Acid