The effect of a high level of dietary leucine on the niacin status of dogs.

Two feeding trials were designed to precipitate niacin deficiency in puppies receiving low levels of niacin by adding 15 g/kg supplementary l-leucine to a diet containing 180 g/kg casein. We failed to produce such an effect and, as niacin levels were gradually reduced, the times at which control dogs became deficient (and then responded to injections of the vitamin) were not significantly different from those for dogs receiving the leucine supplement. Differences between the conditions of our experiments and of the experiment in which this effect was found are discussed. Two pairs of littermates in trial 2 died suddenly while apparently in fairly good condition, but revealing fatty livers and/or changes in heart muscle on autopsy. Similar observations have been reported by others using purified diets with dogs over long periods; there is no certain explanation.