[Influence of protein-enriched food on tissue vitamin content in pregnant and lactating rats]

Two groups of female rats were fed, during gestation and until weaning of their pups, diets containing respectively 18% (normal protein diet) and 27% (high protein diet) by weight of casein. Two control groups of female rats were fed the same diet. Thiamin, riboflavin and vitamin B6 contents were measured in: - liver and carcass of the mothers before and immediately after delivery or at weaning (21st day), - whole body of the new born rats or in liver and carcass of 21 days old pups. - liver and carcass of the control animals. The high protein diet, as compared to the normal diet, gives the following results: 1) There is no variation of the thiamin content in control animals, female rats at delivery, new born rats. However, at weaning, carcasses of mothers and pups (mainly liver) are enriched in thiamin. 2) On the other hand, riboflavin content in tissues increases in control animals (liver and carcass), in mothers before and after delivery (carcass) but particularly in mothers at the end of lactation (liver and carcass) and it is also the case with pups at weaning (carcass). Only in new born rats do both diets have the same effect. 3)The influence of the high protein diet on vitamin B6 content in tissues is complex. The content is not modified in control animals, in mothers at delivery and in new born rats. At the end of lactation (mothers) and at weaning (pups), the vitamin B6 content increases in liver but strongly decreases in carcass.