Abstract
To clarify the metabolic relationships between thiamin (B_1) and calcium especially in nervous systems of the rats, the following experiment was carried out. Male Wistar rats were divided at first into two groups and two synthetic diets (A, calcium deficient and B, normal diet) were given adlib. After 3 weeks on these dietary regimens, each group was divided again into two groups and four synthetic diets (A-1,calcium deficient-low B_1,B-1,calcium sufficient-low B_1,A-2,calcium deficient-B_1 sufficient, B-2,calcium-B_1 sufficient) were given for 5 weeks. Neurological symptoms occurred in the rat fed calcium deficient-low B_1 diet (A-1) and sometimes these rats died. When B_1 was administered to these rats, they recovered quickly. The growth, the body temperature, the blood pressure and the heart beat decreased in calcium deficient-low B_1 rats (A-1). B_1 levels in nervous systems and heart decreased in rats fed a calcium deficient-low B_1 (A-1) diet as compared with in calcium sufficient-low B_1 rats (B-1). Calcium levels in femur decreased in calcium deficient rats (A-1,2) and calcium level in telencephalon decreased only in rats fed a calcium deficient-low B_1 (A-1) diet. Magnesium levels in femur decreased in calcium deficient rats (A-1,2) and increased in blood in calcium deficient rats (A-1,2). These results suggested that calcium plays an important role in B_1 metabolism in nervous systems.
