Consequences of copper deficiency are not differentially influenced by carbohydrate source in young pigs fed a dried skim milk-based diet.
Carbohydrates (CHO) such as fructose (FR) or sucrose, but not starch (ST), aggravate the consequences of dietary copper (Cu) deficiency in rats. To evaluate whether this Cu X CHO interaction is pertinent to human health, the pig was used as an animal model. In two studies, 66 weanling pigs were fed dried skim milk (DSM)-based diets for 10 wk with 20% of the total calories provided as either FR, glucose, or ST and containing either deficient (1.0-1.3 micrograms/g diet) or adequate (7.1 micrograms/g) levels of Cu. Plasma and tissue levels of Cu, the activities of plasma ceruloplasmin ferroxidase and erythrocyte Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase, and hematocrits were lower (p less than 0.05) in animals fed Cu-deficient diets. The relative cardiac mass of all Cu-deficient groups was greater (p less than 0.05) than that of animals fed Cu-adequate diets. These effects were in general unaffected by type of CHO. For comparison, weaned male rats were also fed DSM-based containing diets ST or FR with adequate or deficient Cu for as long as 10 wk. Rats consuming the Cu-deficient diets were characterized by significantly lower hematocrits, decreased tissue Cu levels, and enlarged hearts, regardless of the CHO source. Together, these data demonstrate that DSM-based diets are not suitable for delineation of potential Cu X CHO interactions, and one or more components of DSM may exacerbate the consequences of dietary Cu deficiency.
USDA, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Vitamin and Mineral Laboratory, MD 20705.
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Schoenemann
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Failla
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Fields
D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003300:Copper / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013552:Swine
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D003300:Copper