Consequences of copper deficiency are not differentially influenced by carbohydrate source in young pigs fed a dried skim milk-based diet

• Published in: Biological trace element research Vol. 25; no. 1; p. 21
• Main Authors: Schoenemann, H.M. (USDA, ARS, Beltsville), Failla, M.L, Fields, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.04.1990
• Subjects: Animal Feed - analysis; Animals; Body Weight - drug effects; CARBOHIDRATOS; CARBOHYDRATES; CARENCE EN OLIGOELEMENT; CERDO; COBRE; COPPER; Copper - deficiency; Copper - metabolism; CUIVRE; DEFICIENCIA DE OLIGOELEMENTOS; DIET; DIETA; Dietary Carbohydrates - pharmacology; DRIED SKIM MILK; Female; GLUCIDE; LAIT ECREME EN POUDRE; LECHE DESCREMADA EN POLVO; Male; Milk; Organ Size - drug effects; PORCIN; Pregnancy; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; REGIME ALIMENTAIRE; SWINE; TRACE ELEMENT DEFICIENCIES
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02990260
• ISSN: 0163-4984

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.