EFFECTS OF DIETARY CHROMIUM, COPPER AND ZINC ON PLASMA-LIPID CONCENTRATIONS IN MALE JAPANESE-QUAIL

The effects of dietary chromium, copper and zinc on plasma lipids were evaluated in male Japanese quail, Coturnix coturnix japonica, using a three-factor response surface design. Quail were randomly assigned to one of fifteen experimental diets containing variable concentrations of chromium (71 to 1124 ng/g diet), copper (1.6 to 8.3 mu g/g diet), a nd zinc (11 to 51 mu g/g diet). After six weeks, blood samples were ob tained by cardiac puncture for plasma lipid analyses. No significant e ffect on plasma total cholesterol concentration was observed for the m ineral ranges studied. Plasma HDL-cholesterol concentration was signif icantly affected by the interaction between dietary copper and chromiu m. In addition, plasma triglyceride concentration was significantly af fected by the interaction between dietary copper and chromium and the interaction between dietary copper and zinc. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.