title: Utilization of dietary urea nitrogen is stimulated by D-mannitol feeding in rabbits.
abstract: The effect of D-mannitol as an indigestible sugar on apparent digestibility of nutrients, nitrogen (N) utilization and growth performance, have been investigated in growing rabbits fed a urea-containing diet. In experiment 1, 40-day-old male rabbits were fed a commercial diet with urea 10 g/kg with added glucose or D-mannitol 60 g/kg each. Thereafter, in experiment 2 the rabbits aged 55 days were fed a commercial diet with or without urea 10 g/kg. Feed restriction at 55 g/kg(0.75)/day was carried out in both experiments. Addition of D-mannitol to the urea-containing diet decreased urinary N excretion, which consequently increased N retention and ratios of retained N to consumed N or apparently absorbed N. Addition of urea alone to the diet increased daily N intake and urinary N excretion but did not affect N retention. Weight gain and feed efficiency were improved by D-mannitol feeding, whereas feeding with urea alone did not affect these parameters. Utilization of dietary urea was enhanced in growing rabbits fed the urea-containing diet with D-mannitol, resulting in improvement of N retention and growth performance.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Kiyonori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Ei
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
mesh_terms: D060433:Administration, Ophthalmic; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004063:Digestion / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008353:Mannitol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D011817:Rabbits / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014508:Urea / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D008353:Mannitol; D014508:Urea; D009584:Nitrogen