All nonhuman primates are susceptible to vitamin C deficiency. Hypovitaminosis C may cause immunosuppression and increase susceptibility to infectious diseases before clinical signs of the deficiency appear. Commercial monkey diets contain vitamin C that is stable for 3 months after the diet is milled and packaged, if properly stored. Supplemental sources are green leafy vegetables and citrus fruits. Orally administered human pediatric vitamin preparations that contain ascorbic acid are readily accepted. Daily intake of vitamin C at 3–6 mg/kg prevents scurvy. Scurvy should be treated with ascorbic acid at dosages of 25–50 mg/kg/day until clinical signs resolve and dietary consumption of adequate vitamin C is restored.
Primates require vitamin D to prevent rickets and osteomalacia. Asian and African primates can use provitamin D2 (in plant materials); Central and South American primates (New World) cannot and require provitamin D3. Commercial diets specifically formulated for New World primates should be the main component of the diet of these animals. Fish-liver oils provide an adequate source of D3, or as little as 1.25 IU/g of diet can be added to the ration. Exposure of monkeys to sunlight facilitates conversion of vitamin D to active forms. Without adequate D3, New World primates may develop secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism (see Fibrous Osteodystrophy in Animals Fibrous Osteodystrophy in Animals In primary hyperparathyroidism, there is excess production of parathyroid hormone (PTH) by an autonomous functional lesion in one or several of the parathyroid glands. The normal regulatory... read more ).
