Cyanide, protein and iodine interaction in the performance and metabolism of rats.

Performance and metabolic traits were measured in sixty-four growing rats fed on varying levels of dietary cyanide, protein and iodine. The presence of cyanide in the diets caused a non-significant reduction in both feed consumption and growth rate. Moreover, on protein deficient diets, the lowest body weight gain was obtained in the animals with 750 ppm cyanide. Iodine deficiency did not have any marked influence on performance. Dietary cyanide significantly increased serum and urinary thiocyanate concentration while iodine deficiency caused significant reductions in serum protein bound iodine (PBI). Interactions of protein deficiency and dietary cyanide also significantly reduced serum thiocyanate concentrations, while interactions of the three dietary variables significantly reduced kidney protein content.