QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Leveille, G. A. Articles by Sauberlich, H. E. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Leveille, G. A. Articles by Sauberlich, H. E.

Influence of Dietary Protein Level on Serum Protein Components and Cholesterol in the Growing Chick

U. S. Army Medical Research and Nutrition Laboratory, Fitzsimons General Hospital, Denver, Colorado

Male chicks were fed protein levels of 10, 15, 20 and 25% for a three-week period. The influence of these variations on growth, total serum protein components, serum cholesterol and on plasma volume was determined.

The protein requirement for maximum growth was found to be between the two highest protein levels fed and was calculated as 20.5% of the diet. Total serum protein increased from 2.33 gm per 100 ml at the 10% dietary protein level to 3.06 gm per 100 ml at the 25% level. The changes in serum protein could be attributed to variations in the albumin level, the level of the globulins remaining constant at all protein levels fed.

Serum cholesterol decreased from a level of 297 mg per 100 ml at the 10% protein level to 185 mg per 100 ml at the 25% level. Plasma volume remained constant as a percentage of body weight at the three highest protein levels fed.

The importance of variations in plasma volume on the determination of plasma components is discussed.