Role of Inositol and p-Aminobenzoic Acid in Normal Lactation

Conclusions The results indicate that the B-complex supplement without p-amino-benzoic acid or inositol will not support normal lactation, that under these conditions the initiation of lactation is slow, and that it never achieves a normal level. The rapid decline in milk production beginning with the tenth postpartum day is also noteworthy; it culminates in almost complete cessation of lactation on the 14th day. The addition of p-aminobenzoic acid to the B-complex supplement appears to result in delayed initiation of lactation, there being no significant amount of milk until the 5th post-partum day. After this time, however, secretion was maintained at a normal level. With the addition of inositol to the B-complex supplement there was a prompt initiation of lactation which was maintained at a level only slightly less than that of the controls. Further supplementation of this regime with p-aminobenzoic acid resulted in no significant improvement in milk secretion over that in the group which received the B-complex supplement and inositol alone. These findings are in general supported by the infant mortality rates for the various experimental groups. From these data we may conclude that the B-complex supplement alone or with the addition of p-aminobenzoic acid will not support normal nutrition of young rats. Supplementation with inositol results in mortality rates only slightly greater than those observed in the control animals. Supplementation with both inositol and p-aminobenzoic acid results in mortality rates quite comparable to those of the controls. Summary. The critical role of inositol in the maintenance of normal lactation in the albino rat has been confirmed. P-aminobenzoic acid does not seem to increase lactation directly but when given to animals also receiving inositol it slightly decreases mortality rates of the newborn.