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The effect of rapid hypobaric transition (1 hr.) upon water consumption, food consumption, body weight, feeding activity and spontaneous activity of albino rats was studied using a within-subject design. Transition from 635 ± 5 mm. Hg. (5,000 ft.) to 455 ± 5 mm. Hg. (14,000 ft.) induced temporary hypophagia, hypodipsia and concomitant weight loss; gradual recovery occurred during the exposure period; return to 635 ± 5 mm. Hg. after 7 days abruptly (≤ 24 hr.) alleviated these effects. Alterations in feeding activity (time-in-foodwell) during the off portions of the light cycle paralleled food intake changes. No reliable changes in spontaneous activity as a function of hypobaric transition were noted. Results were interpreted as suggestive of hypothalamic and frontal cortex involvement in hypoxia-induced behavioral shifts.

Six male conscientious-objector volunteers served as subjects in an 84-day study of potential behavioral effects induced by severe hyporiboflavinosis. During 56-days of near total riboflavin restriction (i.e., two diets of 130-g/day and 65-g/day casein containing 0.5 µg riboflavin/g were used), significant changes were found in five personality subscales of the MMPI (hypochondriasis, depression, hysteria, psychopathic-deviate, and hypomania), as well as hand-grip strength. These effects were noted by the 39th and 52nd day of restriction, respectively, in the absence of any clinical symptomatology. Effects were not readily reversible during a 14-day repletion period. The MMPI data were viewed as reflecting subjective reports of somatic symptomatology and situational reactions associated with the stress of riboflavin restriction. Decreased hand-grip strength was viewed as a residual effect of reduced flavin proteins (i.e., oxidative phosphorylation) present in body musculature under riboflavin depletion. Incidental findings showed that an enzymatic erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient (AC) between 1.20 and 1.30 is a potentially conservative range unrelated to hyporiboflavinosis; and, select behavior measures afford improved means for assessing onset and recovery of specific vitamin deficiencies.

Additional information regarding the development of symptomatology subscales for the measurement of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is presented. High item intercorrelations and strong factor loadings of items comprising symptom clusters (i.e., Arousal Level, Somatic Discomfort, Tired, and Mood) support the previously reported breakdown of the General High Altitude Questionnaire (GHAQ) into subscales. Rapid transition from low to high altitude resulted in an increase of these symptomatology subscale scores. Several subscale differences were also noted between Phenformin and Placebo Ss at low altitude. Such subscale measures could provide improved estimates of symptomatology, useful in assessing the effectiveness of various treatments intended to ameliorate AMS.