EFFECTS OF DIETARY CHROMIUM, COPPER AND ZINC ON FEMUR FRACTURE FORCE AND FEMUR CALCIUM-CONCENTRATION IN MALE JAPANESE-QUAIL

The effects of dietary chromium, copper and zinc on femur fracture for ce and femur calcium concentration were evaluated in male Japanese qua il, Coturnix coturnix japonica, using a three-factor response surface design. Quail were randomly assigned to one of fifteen experimental di ets containing variable concentrations of dietary chromium (71 to 1124 ng/g diet), copper (1.6 to 8.3 mu g/g diet), and zinc (11 to 51 mu g/ g diet). After six weeks femurs were removed, weighed and frozen for f uture analysis of femur fracture force and femur calcium concentration . Femur fracture force was significantly influenced by the interaction between dietary zinc and copper. In addition, bone calcium concentrat ion was significantly affected by the quadratic effects of dietary zin c and copper. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.