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The Effect of Ascorbic Acid in the Diet of Adult Chickens on Calcium Utilization by the Progeny¹

Colorado State University, Fort Collins

The influence of ascorbic acid in the parental diet on the subsequent utilization of Ca⁴⁵ by rachitic and non-rachitic progeny has been studied using the chick.

The presence of vitamin C in the ration of the parents apparently changed the early Ca⁴⁵ uptake by the progeny. The absence of vitamin D₃ in the diet of the progeny appeared to have no effect on these results. In control and vitamin D₃-deficient chicks produced from parents given dietary ascorbic acid, it was observed that the amount of Ca⁴⁵ retained by the tibiae to 60 minutes post-injection was dependent on the amount of isotope presented to the absorptive area of the intestinal tract. This same relationship was observed in control progeny from non-ascorbic acid-supplemented parents; however, vitamin D₃-deficient progeny failed to show this relationship. It was also observed that both control and deficient chicks from the ascorbic acid-supplemented parents showed increasing blood levels of Ca⁴⁵ as late as 60 minutes after injection. These results were widely different from those normally expected, suggesting that the presence of vitamin C in the maternal diet had an influence on the intestinal absorption of both control and vitamin D₃-deficient chicks.

The above results suggested that vitamin D₃ was not involved primarily with intestinal absorption. Furthermore, it was shown that even though parental dietary ascorbic acid promoted normal intestinal absorption of Ca⁴⁵ during vitamin D₃ deficiency, appearance of rachitic symptoms was not alleviated. In short, it appeared that rachitic symptoms may be even more severe under such conditions.

In light of these observations, it seemed that calcium uptake alone, in this case, was not sufficient to prevent rickets. This leads to the suggestion that vitamin D₃ is necessary for normal bone development and that factors other than this vitamin can sustain normal calcium intestinal absorption.

² The data reported herein were taken from a thesis submitted by C. W. Weber to the school of Graduate Studies, Colorado State University, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree, Master of Science in Poultry Nutrition.

³ Present Address: Department of Poultry Husbandry, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Manuscript received 21 November 1958.