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Effect of Dietary Copper, Iron and Ascorbic Acid Levels on Hematology, Blood and Tissue Copper, Iron and Zinc Concentrations and ⁶⁴Cu and ⁵⁹Fe Metabolism in Young Pigs

Department of Animal Science, New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, New York State Veterinary College, and U. S. Plant, Soil and Nutrition Laboratory, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850

Two levels each of Cu, Fe and ascorbic acid (AA) were used in a factorial arrangement in diets fed to 3-week-old pigs in an attempt to determine the influence of high levels of dietary Fe and AA on the deleterious effects of 250 ppm dietary Cu, to ascertain the mode of action of high Cu in inducing anemia and to delineate the effects of high dietary AA on Fe and Cu metabolism. Pigs fed high Cu had decreased plasma and liver Fe concentrations, increased latent and total Fe binding capacity, decreased saturation of transferrin, increased rate of removal of intravenously administered ⁵⁹Fe from the plasma and increased utilization of ⁵⁹Fe by RBC, all manifestations of Fe deficiency. The rapid uptake of ⁵⁹Fe by RBC, low levels of tissue Fe and low degree of transferrin saturation indicate no block in Fe release from the reticuloendothelial system. Liver Cu concentration of pigs fed high Cu was greatly reduced by addition of 0.5% AA to the diet. AA had no effect on altering the level of Fe retained in the liver or intestine, but did increase the plasma Fe level, the degree of saturation of plasma transferrin, and the rate of removal from plasma and uptake by RBC of ⁵⁹Fe. It is concluded that the Fe deficiency induced by high dietary Cu is due to impairment in Fe absorption from the gastrointestinal tract and that this impairment is ameliorated by AA.

KEY WORDS: • dietary Cu • dietary Fe • dietary ascorbic acid • Fe utilization

¹ Present address: Cargill Research Farm. Elk River, Minn. 55330.

² Department of Animal Science. New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

³ Department of Physical Biology, New York State Veterinary College.

⁴ Clinical Pathology Section, New York State Veterinary College.

⁵ U. S. Plant, Soil and Nutrition Laboratory, U. S. D. A., Ithaca, N. Y. 14850.

⁶ Department of Pathology, New York State Veterinary College.

Manuscript received 18 June 1973.