Choline‐induced Pyridoxine Deficiency in Broiler Chickens

The choline and sulphur amino acid requirements of broiler chickens fed on semi‐purified diets

“…However, in the majority of cases pyridoxin supplementation was either detrimental or had little effect on production at the low dietary TSAA concentration (6-4 g/kg). This trend contrasts with the single study of Saville et al (1967) at similar TSAA concentrations. However, because choline supplementation only reduced performance in experiment 1 and not in the other experiments no definite conclusion can be reached concerning the merits of pyridoxin supplementation of high choline diets.…”

“…This possible indication of choline toxicity was counteracted by increasing the dietary TSAA concentration. Toxicity symptoms during growth have been observed by Melass et al (1946), Deeb and Thornton (1959) and Saville et al (1967). The last workers used diets calculated by the present authors to contain 6 to 6-7 g TSAA/kg and overcame the problem by administering pyridoxin in the drinking water.…”

“…Some reports have indicated that high dietary choline concentrations may be detrimental to growth (McDonald, 1957;Deeb and Thornton, 1959;Saville et al, 1967). It has also been suggested that the requirements for folic acid and pyridoxin are increased when diets high in choline are fed (McDonald, 1957;Saville et al, 1967).…”

“…Some reports have indicated that high dietary choline concentrations may be detrimental to growth (McDonald, 1957;Deeb and Thornton, 1959;Saville et al, 1967). It has also been suggested that the requirements for folic acid and pyridoxin are increased when diets high in choline are fed (McDonald, 1957;Saville et al, 1967). Similarly, high dietary methionine has been reported to increase the chick's requirement for folic acid (McDonald, 1957) and pyridoxin (Fuller and Hill, 1964) as well as choline (Ketola and Nesheim, 1974).…”

Scientific Opinion on safety and efficacy of choline chloride as a feed additive for all animal species

“…Deeb and Thornton (1959) found supplementation of a semipurified diet with 880-1760 mg choline chloride/kg diet was optimal for growth, but levels exceeding 2200 mg/kg diet depressed growth. Saville et al (1967) reported signs of pyridoxine deficiency (hyperexcitability, muscular incoordination) in chickens for fattening after supplementing a diet with 2200 mg choline chloride/kg and growth depression after even lower doses (1320 mg/kg diet).…”