In purified diets each vitamin is obtained from a discrete primary source allowing very close control over total vitamin content. We can easily formulate a "specific-vitamin-deficient" diet, achieving a diet sufficiently low in a particular vitamin to produce animals exhibiting the characteristic signs of deficiency by omitting the specific vitamin from the formulation. Additionally, we can supplement or manipulate the vitamin levels of any purified diet according to your needs.
Some vitamins, like folic acid, may be synthesized by the intestinal microbiota. The investigator should be aware of this potential and, if necessary, seek methods to prevent such extra-dietary source of the vitamin. For example, we offer Folic Acid Deficient Diet 5T0F; as well as Folic Acid Deficient Diet 5T2L, which has 1% succinylsulfathiozole added to inhibit folic acid synthesis. Succinylsulfathiozole is an intestinally active antibiotic that reduces the populations of folate-producing bacteria in the intestine.
Often there is a substantial storage of the fat-soluble vitamins in the liver and fatty tissues. Deficiency states are much more readily produced if the test animals are obtained from parent stock that has received marginal levels of the vitamins in question.
Researchers interested in vitamin D should exercise care that ultraviolet light is not used in the room where the animals are being maintained. Many fluorescent lights do emit some ultraviolet wavelengths of light.
Precise open formulas specify the exact description and amount of each ingredient, including all minerals and vitamins. Some vitamin and mineral mixes are available on-line; we will provide you with any purified diet vitamin or mineral mix on request. Contact us.
Listed below are just a few of the hundreds of purified vitamin-deficient diets available. We have the expertise to modify any diet with any specified level of a particular vitamin. Vitamin-modified purified diets are available for any species of laboratory animal.
Examples of Vitamin-Deficient Purified Diets—
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|
TestDiet® # |
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Vitamin A Deficient Diet |
5T2P |
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Vitamin D Deficient Diet |
5B7Q |
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Vitamin E Deficient Diet (<0.001%) |
5B9G |
|
Folic Acid Deficient Diet (<0.14 ppm) |
5T0F |
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Folic Acid Deficient Diet (<0.05 ppm) with 1% succinylsulfathiozole added |
5T2L |
|
Thiamin Deficient Diet (0.06 ppm) |
5A8H |
|
Biotin Deficient Diet |
5836 |
|
Riboflavin Deficient Diet |
5A8P |
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Pyridoxine Deficient Diet (0.5 ppm) |
5839 |
See also:
Vitamin Modifications to LabDiet® Formulas
*Note: Because of trace amounts of vitamins from other ingredients, often it is quite difficult if not impossible for us to create an absolutely "specific-vitamin-free" diet. Even if the amounts of such vitamin may be below measurable levels, we would be reluctant to certify that it was absolutely free of that specific vitamin.