USE OF WHEAT-OIL

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 64, 9 December 1931, Page 10

USE OF WHEAT-OIL

Interest in Experiments VALUABLE VITAMINS ' Results of Treatment Oil extracted from the germ of wheat was reported last week to have been used experimentally with promising results by a Christchurch doctor in dealing with cases of general debility. The same oil, which was first extracted at the Wheat Research Institute, Christchurch, more than a year ago for the experimental use of the Stock Division of the Department of Agriculture, has been used in Wellington also during the last few months in the treatment of sterility among women. So far as can be learned, the oil has not cured sterility in the cases on which it has been tried, although there appears to be a marked general improvement in health since the doses of wheat or? began. The use of the oil in dealing with sterility depends upon the fact that it is especially rich in vitamins B and E, and contains also some vitamin A. The vitamin E, sometimes referred to as the anti-sterillty vitamin, is the reason for its use, and it was shown in .1922 that wheat oil was the best available source of this particular substance. The oil which has been us° in New Zealand was prepared from Canterbury wheat by solvent extraction, and subsequent removal of the solvent by vacuum distillation, leaving behind an oil of pale, golden colour. Wheat germ constitutes only about one-sixtieth part of the entire wheat kernel, and was found in 1916 to be especially valuable in certain respects. It has abundant proteins, of good quality, and contains the Vitamins already mentioned. About 10 per cent, of the germ is oil,.rich in vitamin E. Wheat germ or wheat oil has been fed to animals in many parts of the world, principally in Canada and the United States. Its use to combat sterility is illustrated by experiments which were carried out with certain types of fox, which are bred for their fur. In captivity the foxes were inclined to become less fertile. Feeding them wheat germ or wheat oil made them produce larger litters, and improved their general health to a considerable extent. No Positive Results. The Christchurch doctor was interested in the experiments on animals, and prescribed the oil in three cases for persons who were > suffering from general debility from various causes., From his subsequent observations of the patients he formed the definite opinion that the oil would accomplish for human beings what it has done for animals. In Wellington, however, in the treatment of sterility it has not yet shown positive results. Only small quantities, however, are understood to have been so far availablePrecisely the same vitamin is present in bread or other foods manufactured from real whole wheat, but wheat oil enables much greater quantities of the vitamin to.be taken. In general, seeds and green leaves from plants are good sources of vitamin E. The vitamin is present in corn, oats, and, of course, to an even greater extent in wheat. It also seems to be a remarkably stable sort of compound, and one that will resist heat, light, air and most of the ordinary chemical reactions. Information Desired. Wheat oil was found to be particularly valuable for nursing mothers, for that part of the body which dealt with lactation was easily injured, and accordingly the raw wheat germ supplied any deficiencies from tuis cause. The Christchurch doctor hopes to get the whole ot the profession interested in the wheat germ question so that some definite information of the success of its use might be obtained. The germ was quite satisfactory for the treatment of general debility, but it could not be claimed as a new discovery.