Niacin and pantothenic acid excretions of humans fed a low-methionine, plant-based diet.

The addition of a vitamin to a diet of humans has been shown to increase the excretion of that vitamin. The effects of an increase of one vitamin on another have not been investigated. The objective of the current project was to compare the effects of two supplementation patterns on the niacin and pantothenic acid excretion values of humans consuming a peanut butter-based diet. Two groups each received one of two supplementation regimens. One group received niacin, a multi-vitamin, or no supplement. One group received methionine alone, pantothenic acid alone or methionine plus pantothenic acid. The addition of either vitamin resulted in increased excretion of that vitamin. Urinary niacin excretion of the group that received pantothenic acid and/or methionine was greater than that observed with a multi-vitamin or no supplement. Urinary pantothenic acid excretion was suppressed when niacin was a supplement. Urinary pantothenic acid excretion of the methionine supplement group was greater than the excretion of the groups which received either niacin or multi-vitamin supplements. These data suggest some possible dangers in indiscriminate supplementation of food products.