Vitamin K Activity of Menadione Dimethylpyrimidmol Bisulfite in Chicks

MOST of the data presented in the literature indicate that menadione soluble compound, has more vitamin K activity than fat soluble menadione (2-methyl-l,4-naphthoquinone) or vitamin K1 Frost et al. (1956) found MSBC to be three times as effective as menadione for chicks. Perdue et al. (1957) found the activity of MSBC to be 1.5 times that of vitamin K1. Nelson and Norris (1960) reported menadione sodium bisulfite and vitamin K1 to be about equally active on a molar basis and both were 2.5 times more active than menadione. The vitamin K activity of a new water soluble analogue of menadione, menadione dimethylpyrimidinol bisulfite (MPB), was compared with that of MSBC and the results are presented in this paper. Since this study was completed, Griminger (1965) has also reported data comparing the relative vitamin K activity of these two compounds. Day-old male broiler type chicks, obtained from a commercial hatchery, …