The influence of vitamins of the B complex on the induction of epithelial tumors in mice.

Abstract

Summary The influence of variations in the amount of vitamins of the B complex and of unknown nutritive factors on the formation of tumors induced by applications of carcinogenic hydrocarbons on the skin of mice was investigated. The food intake was controlled at isocaloric levels within each experiment. The various diets tested can be characterized as follows: 1. control; 2. all vitamins high; 3. all vitamins low; 4. thiamine and riboflavin low; 5. pyridoxine low; 6. niacin and pantothenic acid low; 7. the remaining 5 crystalline B vitamins low; 8. pteroyltriglutamic acid substituted for pteroylglutamic acid; 9. whole wheat-whole milk powder; 10. rice; and 11. a highly purified diet. The rate of tumor induction was not influenced by these various regimens with the exception of diet number 3. This diet resulted in a lower tumor incidence and an acrodynia in the mice which was relieved by the administration of pyridoxine.