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Young Rhesus monkeys were fed a vitamin E-deficient purified diet containing, by weight, 11% fat and 18% isolated soybean protein. After 1–2 years they developed the characteristic deficiency syndrome of nutritional muscular dystrophy and anemia. The syndrome was not influenced by extra dietary methionine and cystine, by the presence or absence of choline, or by selenium. Complete remission of the muscular dystrophy and anemia was induced either by d-alpha-tocopherol or by its l-epimer, but the duration of the remission after treatment with the l-epimer was relatively short. Coenzyme Q10 treatment evoked a reticulocytosis in the anemic, vitamin E-deficient monkey, and a complete hematologic remission followed treatment with a compound of lower molecular weight, hexahydrocoenzyme Q4. This response was interpreted to mean that vitamin E either is involved in the maintenance of coenzyme Q activity or can substitute for coenzyme Q.

A spot test for vanillylmandelic acid and other guaiacol derivatives in the urine of patients with neuroblastoma is presented. The test is based upon the reaction of these substances with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine and sodium metaperiodate which, when alkalinized with sodium carbonate, form a bright blue color. Nine of 13 cases of clinically apparent neuroblastoma (69%) were detectable by this test. Urine from 255 control subjects on unrestricted diets produced only one false positive reaction. The test is simple to perform and utilizes random urine specimens.

SummaryAfter receiving purified diets containing isolated soybean protein for 2 to 7 months, young Rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) became anemic. The erythrocytes were microcytic and hypochromic, serum iron concentrations were low and serum iron binding capacities were high. Iron therapy, either parenteral or oral, produced a prompt remission of anemia. Since these diets contain as much iron as other diets that are adequate in this respect, gastrointestinal absorption of Fe59 was evaluated in the presence of soybean protein and compared to Fe59 absorption in the presence of casein. Soybean protein caused a significant reduction in gastrointestinal absorption of Fe59.