MINERALS IN NUTRITION 21 



The data so far obtained indicate that guinea pigs tend to make a more 

 rapid recovery from scurvy and the scorbutic arthritic condition if, in 

 addition to optimal amounts of vitamin C, they are also fed yeast (a 

 source of vitamins Bi and G) or large amounts of vitamin D. The yeast 

 exerted a more pronounced effect than did vitamin D. 



The bone ash studies show that in scurvy tliere was a considerable loss 

 of minerals from the bones. The mineral content of the bones tended to 

 increase with a progressive improvement in the condition of the guinea 

 pigs. The rate of increase seemed to vary with the speed at which the 

 animals recovered from scurvy. That is, the animals receiving 15 per- 

 cent of yeast in their diet had the greatest ash content in their bones, 

 those receiving the large amounts of vitamin D were next, and those re- 

 ceiving only the vitamin C supplement showed the smallest gain in bone 

 ash content. 



Summary and Conclusions 



Although no definite results showing that scurvy is a precursor to 

 arthritis have been obtained, this investigation has yielded some informa- 

 tion relative to the control of degenerative diseases. While scurvy was 

 the degenerative disease studied, it would seem that the findings may be 

 applied in some degree to similar pathological conditions. 



There was no evidence that iodine or kelp had any influence on the 

 location or severity of scurvy lesions. The experimental animals receiv- 

 ing iodine or kelp did not lose weight more slowly than the control 

 animals. 



The rate of recovery from scurvy was not dependent solely upon the 

 presence of optimal amounts of vitamin C in the diet. Diets containing 

 optimal or large amounts, rather than merely adequate amounts, of vita- 

 mins Bi and G, or D, in addition to large amounts of vitamin C, were 

 more effective in curing scurvy than were diets supplemented only with 

 vitamin C. 



These findings provide further evidence that the optimum vitamin re- 

 quirements are much greater than amounts ordinarily considered to be 

 adequate for maintenance requirements. A diet containing optimal rather 

 than only adequate amounts of the vitamins should be used in the control 

 of degenerative diseases, including arthritis, because an optimal amount 

 of vitamins appears to build up the physiological state of the body to a 

 point where the repair of degenerative conditions may be accelerated. 

 Likewise, optimal amounts of vitamins in the diet should protect the body 

 against the onset of degenerative diseases. 



References 



1. Rinehart, J. F. Studies relating vitamin C deficiency to rheumatic 



fever and rheumatoid arthritis. Experimental, clinical, and general 

 considerations. II. Rheumatoid (atrophic) arthritis. Ann. Inter- 

 natl. Med. 9:671-689. 1935. 



2. Rinehart, J. F. An outline of studies relating to vitamin C deficiency 



and rheumatic fever. Jour. Lab. and Clin. Med. 21:597-604. 1936. 



3. Abbasy, M. A., Gray, N., and Harris, L. J. Vitamin C and juvenile 



rheumatism. Vitamin C reserves in surgical tuberculosis. Lancet 

 1936, 11:1413-1417. 1936. 



