True or false: Axenic animals have higher requirements for food, water, and B vitamins compared to nonaxenic animals.

Axenic animals, which are defined as animals that are free from all microorganisms, often have different nutritional requirements compared to nonaxenic animals, which have a normal microbial flora. One of the key points in understanding the nutrition of axenic animals is that they generally have higher requirements for food, water, and certain nutrients, including B vitamins.

The absence of gut bacteria, which are typically involved in the digestion and synthesis of various nutrients, leads axenic animals to rely solely on their diet for all essential nutrients. Without microbial contributions, they can face deficiencies, especially in B vitamins that are normally synthesized by gut flora. Thus, to maintain health and normal physiological functioning, axenic animals need higher levels of these vitamins, as well as potentially more food and water to compensate for the lack of microbial assistance in their metabolic processes.

In summary, the statement is true because axenic animals do have higher requirements for food, water, and B vitamins compared to their nonaxenic counterparts, due to their lack of gut microbiota.