A separation of the direct toxic effects of dietary raw egg white powder from its action in producing biotin deficiency | British Journal of Nutrition | Cambridge Core (original) (raw)

Abstract
References

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

1. Young adult female albino rats were given 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100% raw egg white powder in their diet; controls were fed on laboratory chow. Daily clinical measurements were made for 2 weeks. The rats were then killed, and the weights and water contents of various organs were determined.

2. The experiment was repeated with groups of young male albino rats fed for 2 and 4 weeks.

3. Toxic signs caused by increasing intake of dried raw egg white powder were: decreased food intake, weight loss, soft stool, diarrhoea, glycosuria and death. Water intake and urine output rose with increasing raw egg white powder in the diet. In all groups the urine was alkaline and the urinary output of protein increased. At autopsy there was a decrease in the absolute weight and in the water content of most body organs with increasing amounts of raw egg white powder in the diet.

4. The toxicity syndrome was not prevented by a biotin supplement, but was largely prevented by heat denaturation of the egg white powder; 80% of denatured egg white was well tolerated, as was 80% of casein in the diet.

5. The syndrome was due to the direct toxic effects of large amounts of dietary raw egg white powder and not to biotin deficiency.

Type

Research Article

References

Bell, G. H., Davidson, J. N. & Scarborough, H. (1953). Textbook of Physiology and Biochemistry, 2nd ed. p. 101. Edinburgh: E. and S. Livingstone.Google Scholar

Boyd, E. M., Peters, J. M. & Krijnen, C. J. (1966). Ind. Med. Surg. 35, 782.Google Scholar

Maignon, F. & Chahine, M. A. (1931). C. r. Séanc. Soc. Biol. 108, 868.Google Scholar

Strominger, J. L. (1946–1947). Yale J. Biol. Med. 19, 279.Google Scholar

White, A., Handler, P. & Smith, E. L. (1964). Principles of Biochemistry, 3rd ed., p. 962. Toronto: McGraw-Hill.Google Scholar