Effect of Dietary Level of Thiamine on Reproduction in the Rat

Reproductive performance and certain aspects of maternal biochemical response were studied in female rats of the Wistar strain maintained with a basal diet containing either an adequate or a low level of thiamine from weaning until mating. During pregnancy the rats were fed an adequate basal diet, or the same basal diet with all vitamin levels doubled. Fewer young were produced by animals fed at the low level of thiamine prior to pregnancy. Albumin and γ-globulin were the only serum proteins that appeared to be influenced by thiamine intake. In other respects reproductive performance and maternal biochemical response were normal even when food intake and thiamine level were low prior to pregnancy. The young were of normal weight. Total serum protein, hemoglobin and hematocrit were similar. Doubling the intake of thiamine and other vitamins during pregnancy had no effect on reproductive performance. Thiamine content in the young and in livers of mothers was related to thiamine intake during pregnancy and was not influenced by low thiamine level prior to pregnancy.