With the discovery of threonine through its essentiality in the growth of the rat, it became possible to raise animals on synthetic diets completely devoid of protein (l-3). However, the metabolic fate of this amino acid is still largely unknown today. Its importance in the growth of microorganisms (4) and in the maintenance of nitrogen equilibrium in older animals (5-7) has been demonstrated. ...

The lipotropic action of choline and of related compounds has been extensively investigated since this effect was demonstrated in rats (2, 3). These studies on the relation of choline to the protein, fat, carbohydrate, and cholesterol metabolism of the rat have recently been reviewed by Best and Ridout (4). In this series of papers, evidence is presented for a hitherto unrecognized effect of ch...

Inositol was originally shown to be a lipotropic agent in rats maintained under special conditions (1) ; the animals were depleted of fat and of B vitamins by maintenance for 3 weeks on a fat-free, high carbohydrate diet, and during a subsequent week fat synthesis was promoted by a supplement of B vitamins and a beef liver fraction. Under these conditions the rats developed markedly fatty liver...

The level of fat in the livers of young rats fed a 9 per cent casein-sucrose diet containing choline and the other known lipotropic agents is markedly decreased when additional threonine (0.18 to 0.36 per cent) is included in the diet (1, 2). Harper et al. (3) also found that the deposition of liver fat was reduced when the low protein diet was supplemented with a high level (1 to 1.5 per cent)...

In spite of tremendous strides in modern medicine there has been no drug that stimulates the function of the liver, protects it from damage or helps in the regeneration of hepatic cells. Liv.52 is reported to be a powerful hepatic stimulant and choleretic which increases the functional capacity of the liver and accelerates cellular metabolic activity and promotes regeneration and shows marked l...