EFFECTS OF ESSENTIAL AMINO ACID DEFICIENCIES ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF FLAVIN COMPOUNDS IN RAT LIVER

Abstract

This experiment was done to study the effects of dietary essential amino acid deficiencies on the distribution of flavin compounds in rat liver. Weanling male Wistar strain rats were fed with experimental diets for 10 days. Amino acid composition of experimental diet was based on the Rama Rao's pattern and was equivalent to 10% protein level. Total riboflavin contents in liver decreased in all essential amino acid-deficiencies, especially in the methionine-deficiency. But total riboflavin per 100 mg nitrogen of liver decreased significantly only in the threonine-and tryptophan-deficient group. The ratio of FAD, FMN and riboflavin contents in liver of amino acid deficient rats showed statistically insignificant difference compared with control group except threonine-deficient group. In the threonine-deficient group, FAD decreased and FMN increased significantly.