An experiment was conducted to study the interrelationships between dietary
fat and protein levels in the regulation of lipid metabolism in the broile
r chicken, Birds were fed diets containing 300, 600, or 1,200 kcal ME from
fat (corn oil) with either 124 or 190 g CP/kg. Two additional experimental
diets contained 234 or 285 g CP and 300 kcal ME from fat. Regardless of fat
lever, birds fed the diets containing 124 g CP/kg weighed less and were le
ss efficient than birds fed diets containing 190 g CP/kg. The diet containi
ng 600 kcal as fat decreased Lipogenesis and malic enzyme activity (P < 0.0
5) in birds fed the diet containing 190 g CP/kg diet, but not in birds fed
the diet containing 124 g CP/kg. Birds fed the latter level of protein requ
ired at least 1,200 kcal as fat to express any significant decrease in lipo
genesis or malic enzyme activity (P < 0.05). Dietary fat did not affect pla
sma levels of triiodothyronine (T-3), thyroxine (T-4), or insulin-like grow
th factor-I (IGF-I). Feeding diets containing 124 g CP/kg resulted in decre
ased plasma T-4 and IGF-I and elevated T-3 (P < 0.05). Increasing dietary p
rotein (compared to increasing dietary fat) increased body weights, IGF-I,
T-4 and decreased lipogenesis, malic enzyme activity, and T-3. Both of thes
e regimens involve decreasing dietary carbohydrate at equal rates, but resu
lts differed. Although replacement of dietary carbohydrates with either fat
or protein reduce precursors for fat synthesis, both energy sources have a
dditional unique effects on metabolism. Dietary protein levels modulate met
abolic effects of dietary fat.