Habitual diet and ascorbic acid status in Sudanese camels.
There is suggestive evidence that a low status of ascorbic acid in camels enhances their risk for infectious diseases. This study was carried out to find clues as to the role of diet in affecting ascorbic acid status. In a crossover trial with feeding periods of 3 weeks each, six camels (Camelus dromedarius) were fed either a composite of their habitual diet or alfalfa. The simulated habitual diet contained grass (hummra), Acacia mellifera and Blepharis persica. The habitual diet significantly lowered ascorbic acid concentrations in plasma and leukocytes. It is concluded that camels kept on natural desert vegetation may not have optimal disease resistance due to a diet-induced low ascorbic acid status.
Department of Animal Production, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, PO Box 2460, Riyadh, 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. hmohamedd@ksu.edu.sa
Hasablerasoul E
HE
Mohamed
Ahmed
A
Alhaidary
Anton Christian
AC
Beynen
D000045:Acacia / Q000737:chemistry; D027901:Acanthaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D002162:Camelus / Q000502:physiology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D013397:Sudan
D001205:Ascorbic Acid