Effect of thiamine deficiency on collagen metabolism.

Young weanling albino rats were pair fed with control and thiamine deficient diets for five weeks. The analyses of skins and granulomas showed that, compared with the control, the thiamine deficient group had a decrease in the neutral salt soluble, insoluble, and total collagen contents. The incorporation of glycine-1-14C into the skin collagen and the free glycine content of skins were also decreased. There was no change in the RNA and DNA contents of skins and granulomas. The urinary excretion of hydroxyproline or plasma hydroxyproline was not affected. The results suggest that there is a reduction of collagen synthesis in thiamine deficiency.