Counteraction of Cortisone Inhibition of Body, Hair, and Thymus Growth by Vitamin B12 and Aureomycin

In a study involving 130 immature male albino rats on a vitamin B12-deficient diet, daily injections of 0.5 mg of cortisone for 30 days led to significant reductions in body, hair, and thymus growth. These negative effects were mitigated by adding 200 µg of vitamin B12 per kilogram of diet or 0.005% aureomycin, with vitamin B12 proving more effective than aureomycin. The combination of both substances was even more beneficial. The improvements were linked to increased food consumption and better food-to-body weight conversion. The study concludes that cortisone exacerbates vitamin B12 deficiency, contributing to the observed growth inhibitions, though the protective mechanisms of vitamin B12 and aureomycin on the thymus remain unclear.