Cholesterol and Fatty Acid Synthesis in Biotin Deficient Rats

The rates of cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis in normal and biotin deficient rats were determined by means of heavy water administration. In biotin deficient rats the rate of cholesterol synthesis was found to be normal and the rate of fatty acid synthesis slightly increased. It was shown that the increased rate of fatty acid synthesis is related to the inanition accompanying biotin deficiency and not to the deficiency itself.