title: l-Lysine supplementation does not affect the bioavailability of copper or iron in rats.
abstract: l-lysine (Lys) is an essential amino acid that is added to foods and dietary supplements. Lys may interact with mineral nutrients and affect their metabolism. This study examined the effect of dietary Lys supplementation on the bioavailability of copper (Cu) and iron (Fe). Weanling male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed one of five diets (20% casein) for 4 weeks containing normal Cu and Fe (control) or low Cu or Fe without (LCu, LFe) or with (LCu+Lys, LFe+Lys) addition of 1.5% Lys. Final body weights, body weight gains and food consumption of the rats did not differ (P≥0.05) among diet groups. Rats fed the low Cu or Fe diets showed changes in nutritional biomarkers compared to control rats, demonstrating reduced Cu and Fe status, respectively. Hematological parameters, serum ceruloplasmin activity and Cu and Fe concentrations in serum, liver, kidney and intestinal mucosa were unaffected (P≥0.05) by Lys supplementation. These results indicate that in the context of an adequate protein diet, Lys supplementation at a relatively high level does not affect Cu or Fe bioavailability in rats.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Research Division, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Sir Frederick G. Banting Research Centre, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Canada. Electronic address: jesse.bertinato@hc-sc.gc.ca.
authors.forename: Jesse
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bertinato
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Research Division, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Sir Frederick G. Banting Research Centre, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9, Canada. Electronic address: clave024@uottawa.ca.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lavergne
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Research Division, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Sir Frederick G. Banting Research Centre, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Canada. Electronic address: nvu008@uottawa.ca.
authors.forename: Nina A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Vu
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Research Division, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Sir Frederick G. Banting Research Centre, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9, Canada. Electronic address: louise.j.plouffe@hc-sc.gc.ca.
authors.forename: Louise J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Plouffe
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Research Division, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Sir Frederick G. Banting Research Centre, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9, Canada. Electronic address: carla.wood@hc-sc.gc.ca.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Research Division, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Sir Frederick G. Banting Research Centre, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9, Canada. Electronic address: philip.griffin@hc-sc.gc.ca.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Research Division, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Sir Frederick G. Banting Research Centre, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9, Canada; Department of Chemistry, Carleton University, Canada. Electronic address: chaowu.xiao@hc-sc.gc.ca.
authors.forename: Chao-Wu
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D003300:Copper / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008239:Lysine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D008239:Lysine
keywords: Bioavailability; Copper; Diet; Iron; Rat; l-Lysine