EFFECTS OF DIETARY COPPER DEFICIENCY ON RELATIVE FOOD-INTAKE AND GROWTH EFFICIENCY IN RATS

Weanling male rats were fed either copper-adequate (CuA) or copper-def icient (CuD) diets ad lib for 20 wk. A pair-fed group was also studied . Two relative food intake indices (RFIs) and a growth efficiency (GE) index were calculated. Body weights of the CuD group became reduced c ompared to the CuA group starting the sixth week of the study. Copper deficiency was found to affect both of the RFI indices and the GE inde x in a time-dependent manner. RFIs and GE were reduced early, but reco vered towards the control values during the last half of the experimen tal period. At the end of 20 wk, organ copper content and serum cerulo plasmin was reduced in the CuD group. Dietary copper deficiency reduce s growth rate through effects both on food intake and efficiency of fo od utilization for growth.