ABSTRACT
The nutritional requirements of a germfree (GF) animal are determined first of all by the phenotypic requirements of the metabolic machinery existing in the GF state. Presently available data indicate that the metabolic requirements of the GF rat and the GF mouse differ little from those of their conventional counterparts, except for their somewhat lower energy requirements and apparently lower requirements of certain amino acids. All diets for GF animals obviously need to be absolutely sterile. Whenever sterilization by radiation is available, it should be regarded as the method of choice for solid diets. The available data point to lower qualitative and quantitative requirements of GF rats and GF mice. Physicians have known for a long time that vitamin was required only for the newborn, and possibly in a case of prolonged treatment with antibiotics. Inositol is produced by the body, but there remains a certain amount of doubt as to whether this production will cover requirements under all conditions.
