Iron and folic acid metabolism in chicks

ABSTRACT

The effects of iron and/or folic acid deficiency on hemoglobin, hematocrit, growth rates, liver weights and folic acid metabolism were investigated in chicks. A severe anemia developed in all chicks fed the deficient diets; those fed the diet low in iron and folic acid developed the most severe anemia. Maximum growth retardation was noted in chicks fed the folic acid deficient diet rather than in the double deficient chicks. A significant decrease in plasma folic acid was noted in the folate deficient groups and a comparable reduction in plasma N[5]- methyl tetrahydrofolic acid was observed in the iron deficient chicks. Perhaps the most interesting observation made from this study is that the chick maintains more than half of its plasma folic acid as tetrahydrofolic acid rather than in the form of N[5]- methyl tetrahydrofolale which is the major circulating form in most mammals tested. It was concluded from this study that as in man or the rat prolonged iron deficiency may enhance or induce secondary folate deficiency in the chicks. Further, the chicks susceptibility to dietary folate deficiency in contrast to other species may be related to the form in which it maintains its circulating folate