Effect of Dietary Calcium, Phosphorus, and Vitamin D₃ on Alkaline Phosphatase Activity of Intestinal Mucosa of Chicks

Abstract

Diets with varying levels of Ca, inorganic phosphorus (P1), and vitamin D3 were fed to chicks from 1 day of age. Alkaline phosphatase of intestinal mucosa was twofold higher at 3 weeks in female chicks fed 0.16% of P1 than in chicks fed 0.48% of P1 when the diets contained 7500 I.C.U. of vitamin D3 per kilogram and 1% of Ca. The effect of low dietary P1 was less pronounced when the diets contained 450 I.C.U. of vitamin D3 per kilogram and 1% of Ca but no definite pattern in enzyme activities due to level of P1 was observed with 0.53% of Ca. In male chicks there was a small but consistent increase (35–45%) in the activity of intestinal phosphatase when the diets were low in Ca, P1, or both. The level of vitamin D3 had no effect on the intestinal enzyme in male birds.

Interactions of Ca, P, Zn and Alkaline Phosphatase in the Chick

“…The action of dietary Ca and Mg (1.5% Ca or 0.4% Mg versus control containing 0.6% Ca and 0.2% Mg) was subsequently verified [McCuaig et al, 1972;Kuan, 1965 (for Ca)]. Zinc deficiency lowered the phosphatase activity of several chick tissues while phosphorus deficiency elevated the intestinal (Davies et al, 1970;Motzok et al, 1971) and liver (McCuaig, 1970), enzyme. Phosphorus in excess had no effect (Mc-Cuaig et al, 1972).…”

Interactions of Ca, P, Zn, and Alkaline Phosphatase in the Chick. II. Effect of Dietary Ca Level

“…Two further experiments in this laboratory have indicated that lincreascd dietary Ca can inorganic phosphorus (Pi) is inadequate (Motzok et al 1971 ;McCuaig and Motzok 1973). Since low phosphate diets (with normal Ca) also increase the enzyme activity in chicks McCuaig and Motzok 1972) it is probable that the dietary Ca/Pi ratio is the important factor regulating the enzyme.…”