A Study of the Nutritive Value of Mushrooms

Abstract

Summary The nutritive properties of the mushroom Agaricus campestris have been studied with albino rats. Diets which contained mushrooms were consumed in subnormal quantities, and consequently growth was subnormal on these diets. Exceptions to this general result were observed when mushrooms were fed to animals which were depleted in vitamin B or G. Mushrooms were found to be a relatively good source of vitamins B and G. Levels of 10 per cent and 5 per cent of the diet on a dry weight basis supplied sufficient B and G, respectively, to support satisfactory growth. The data indicate that a diet containing 10 per cent of mushrooms as the only source of vitamin B is deficient in some factor other than B or G. A preliminary study has indicated that mushroom protein is incomplete. A detailed investigation of these deficiencies is hampered by the poor consumption of diets which contain mushrooms. There is no evidence to show that Agaricus campestris contains a toxic principle.