The AIN-93 rodent diets were formulated to substitute for the previous
version (AIN-76A) and to improve the performance of animals that cons
ume them. They are called AIN-93G, formulated for growth, and AIN-93M,
for maintenance. Major changes included substituting cornstarch for s
ucrose and soybean oil for corn oil and increasing the amount in order
to supply both essential fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic). L-Cyst
ine was substituted for DL-methionine to supplement the casein compone
nt. The mineral mix was reformulated to lower the amounts of phosphoru
s, manganese and chromium, to increase the amount of selenium, and to
add molybdenum, silicon, fluoride, nickel, boron, lithium and vanadium
. The amounts of vitamins E, K-l and B-12 were increased over those in
the AIN-76A vitamin mix. The AIN-93G diet contains 200 g of casein an
d 70 g of soybean oil/kg diet. The maintenance diet (AIN-93M) contains
140 g of casein and 40 g of soybean oil/kg diet. The 1993 diets have
a better balance of essential nutrients than the 1976 diet and are bet
ter choices for studies with laboratory rodents.