[Thiamine, riboflavin and vitamin B6 contents of organs in the aged rat. I. Effect of vitamin supplementation administered in drinking water].

Respectualy ten and twenty-two months old rats, fed an equilibrated diet, were given daily and for one month an extra supplementation of thiamine, riboflavin and vitamin B6 in drinking water. Control animals of the same age were fed identical diets but without vitamin extra supplementation. Vitamin contents of organs (liver, heart, kidneys, spleen, lungs, brain) were determined in order to evaluate both the influence of aging and of vitamin supplementation. Twenty-three months old rats show lower values of thiamin contents (except in liver and brain), riboflavin contents (except in heart and spleen) and vitamin B6 contents (except in heart, lungs and brain) than younger rats. Vitamin extra-supplementation reduces some of these differences: thiamine contents in heart, kidneys and spleen, riboflavin contents in brain, vitamin B6 contents in kidneys and spleen. In all other cases, the extra-supplementation has no effect. Therefore, it seems that the decrease in vitamin contents in organs of old rats is, in many cases an unavoidable consequence of aging.