Investigation of Possible Antithiamin Properties in Irradiation Sterilized Chicken

Male and female ratss (156 each) were made thiamin-deficient by feeding a semi-purified diet devoid of thiamin. They were then repleted with various test diets containing chicken which had been preserved by one of four metohds: frozen, thermally processed, electron or gamma irradiated. All repletion diets contained carefully controlled (marginal or high) levels of thiamin. Recovery rates were monitored by growth (weight gain) and measurements of a thiamin-dependent blood enzyme (erythrocyte transketolase). The responses of rats fed irradiated chicken were similar to those fed frozen or thermally processed chicken. No evidence was found of antithiamin substances in either gamma or electron irradiation sterilized chicken. (Author)