Bone Disorder and Reduction of Ascorbic Acid Concentration Induced by Biotin Deficiency in Osteogenic Disorder Rats Unable to Synthesize Ascorbic Acid

The developmental mechanism of the bone disorder induced by biotin deficiency was studied in osteogenic disorder rats, animals that have a hereditary defect in ascorbic acid-synthesizing ability. The osteogenic disorder rats fed a biotin-deficient diet containing raw egg white were afflicted with bone abnormality including a hunch in the vertebral column. In the case of biotin deficiency, although the ascorbic acid content in the diet was in excess of the required amount, ascorbic acid levels of the plasma and the organs in the rats were significant lower than those of control rats. This suggests that the bone disorder induced by biotin deficiency in the rats may result from the promotion of ascorbic acid consumption or the impairment of ascorbic acid incorporation in the animal tissues.