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Influence of Copper Supplementation on the Relationship between Dietary Methionine and Free Plasma Methionine¹

Department of Avian Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95616

One-day-old broiler chicks were adapted to a basal, isolated soyprotein-cornstarch diet containing 20% protein, 0.59% methionine and 3,300 kcal metabolizable energy (ME)/kg. They were then fed experimental diets consisting of three levels (0, 500, 1,000 ppm) of copper added to each of the basal diet plus four levels (0, 0.4, 0.8, or 1.5%) of L-methionine for 1 or 4 weeks. Growth was retarded after 1 week by all levels of supplementary methionine, and by 500 or 1,000 ppm excess copper. The plasma concentrations of free methionine, serine, -aminobutyric acid and cystathionine were increased by excess dietary methionine. Excess copper prevented the increase in plasma methionine. After 4 weeks, the plasma methionine concentration and rate of growth of chicks fed 0.4% excess L-methionine did not differ significantly from basal values. The growth retardation caused by 500 ppm excess copper was alleviated by 0.4% supplemental methionine, and the elevations in plasma methionine and liver and spleen iron concentrations observed in chicks fed 1.5% excess methionine were reduced by 1,000 ppm excess copper. The patterns of the relationship between dietary methionine and liver or spleen iron, in the presence or absence of supplementary copper, were similar to those between dietary and free plasma methionine.

KEY WORDS: • methionine • copper • toxicity

¹ Part of a thesis submitted to the Graduate Division of the University of California, Davis, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Ph.D. degree in nutrition.

² Present address: Department of Food Animal Medicine, Avian Medical Field Service, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of California, Davis, CA 95616.

Manuscript received 1 December 1980.