Influence of Dietary Protein and Vitamin B12on the Toxicity and Carcinogenicity of Aflatoxins in Rat Liver1

The influence of dietary protein content and dietary vitamin B,, supplement on the hepatotoxicity and carcinogenicity of aflatoxin in rat liver was studied. In animals fed a low-protein diet, aflatoxin induced extensive toxic and carcinogenic effects. Cirrhosis was significantly pre vented to a certain level by vitamin B,_administration, but the incidence of cholangiofibrosis and hyperplastic nod ules was unchanged. No toxic effect was observed in animals receiving high-protein diet with no vitamin B, supplement in this study (33 weeks). Only one rat bearing a hepatoma was observed in this group. However, hepatoma and hyperplastic nodules were found in the group receiving high-protein diet plus vitamin BI2. Cholangiofi brosis and cirrhosis were not observed in the high-protein group regardless of vitamin B, administration.