Author:
O'Harte F.P.M.,Kennedy D. G.,Blanchflower W. J.,Rice D. A.
Abstract
Eight lambs were fed on a cobalt-deficient whole-barley diet supplemented with urea, vitamins and minerals. Four control lambs were fed on the same diet which had been further supplemented with Co. Plasma vitamin B12levels in the Co-depleted group declined rapidly, falling below the normal range within 5 weeks. Differences between the live weights of the animals in the two groups approached statistical significance by week 14. However, methylmalonic acid (MMA) rose above normal levels in the Co-depleted group within 7 weeks. This suggested that an elevated plasma concentration of MMA is a comparatively early indicator of functional vitamin B12deficiency. It is recommended that 10 μmol/l be the upper level of normality for plasma MMA concentration in barley-fed animals, in contrast with the level of 5 μmol/l for grass-fed animals. Changes in the plasma concentrations of MMA and ethylmalonic acid associated with feeding the barley-based dietper sedid not significantly affect the validity of the gas-liquid chromatographic assay for MMA.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Subject
Nutrition and Dietetics,Medicine (miscellaneous)
Cited by
30 articles.
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