Effect of the presence of labile methyl groups in the diet on labile methyl neogenesis

Abstract The incorporation of deuterium from isotopically labelled body water into the methyl groups of body choline has been used as an indication of methyl synthesis in the rat in vivo . As a test of this concept the amount of isotope appearing in the body choline of rats on a methyl-free diet has been compared with that in rats receiving choline me methionine in the diet. The animals growing well without a source of methyl groups in the diet were found to incorporate approximately four times as much isotope into body choline as animals given choline or methionine.