What nutritional deficiency in mice fed sterilized milk could cause their death? - briefly
Sterilized milk provides inadequate vitamin D, causing severe hypocalcemia. This calcium deficiency leads to fatal metabolic failure in the mice.
What nutritional deficiency in mice fed sterilized milk could cause their death? - in detail
Mice that receive only sterilized milk often succumb because the diet lacks sufficient vitamin D. Heat treatment destroys the vitamin present in raw milk and eliminates any fortification, leaving a source that provides calcium and protein but no active vitamin D. Without this nutrient, intestinal calcium absorption falls dramatically, leading to persistent hypocalcemia. Low blood calcium triggers neuromuscular excitability, tetany, and cardiac arrhythmias, which can rapidly become fatal.
The physiological cascade includes:
- Reduced calcium uptake → depletion of extracellular calcium stores.
- Impaired bone mineralization → osteomalacia and fractures.
- Secondary hyperparathyroidism → increased phosphate excretion and further destabilization of mineral balance.
- Cardiac dysfunction → reduced contractility and conduction abnormalities.
Experimental observations confirm that supplementing sterilized milk with cholecalciferol or providing a separate vitamin D source restores normal calcium levels and prevents mortality. Alternative corrective measures involve adding calcium carbonate together with vitamin D to compensate for the loss of the nutrient during sterilization.
In summary, the lethal outcome stems from an absence of vitamin D, which compromises calcium homeostasis and vital organ function. Restoration of this micronutrient is essential for the survival of rodents fed a milk‑only regimen.