[Body niacin status in experimental diabetes mellitus; effect of protein level in the ration]

Administration of a high-protein diet providing 7-7.8 g of tryptophan per kg of the ration to rats with streptozotocin and alloxan diabetes mellitus resulted in development of a trend to increased liver content of nicotinamide coenzymes and in increased 1-methylnicotinamide excretion with the urine in both groups of animals, this reflecting increased niacin synthesis from tryptophan. Sugar-reducing effect of high-dose nicotinamide was not potentiated by increase of protein share in the ration. These results permitted the authors to suggest that intensification of endogenous niacin synthesis from tryptophan contained in the ration may be one of the mechanisms of a protective effect of high-protein diets in diabetes.