FIGURE 1.

Gerbil body weight plotted against study day for gerbils that were fed 50% maize by weight feed for study 1 with VA+ and VA− groups (A) and study 2 with Zn+ and Zn− groups (B). All values are means ± SDs. (A) Gerbils in study 1 were aged 29–35 d on day 0. Sample sizes during depletion (days 0–27) were whole-milled white maize (n = 34) and refined-milled white maize (n = 33). Seven gerbils were killed on study day 28, after which the remaining gerbils were further randomized and weight-matched into treatments (n = 10/group). The VA+ group was given an oral dose of retinyl acetate daily in cottonseed oil. Orange and VA− groups received vehicle oil only. Data were analyzed as 2- (depletion) or 3-factor (treatment) ANOVA, including all interactions. (B) Gerbils in study group 2 were aged 31–34 d on day 0. Sample sizes were refined Zn− (n = 9). The Zn+ groups (n = 8/group) were given an oral dose of 152 μg Zn as aqueous ZnSO₄ daily. The Zn− groups received vehicle only. Data were analyzed as 3-factor ANOVA, including all interactions. P < 0.05 was considered significant. VA, vitamin A.