Relationship of dietary protein, iron, niacin or thiamin to intestinal mineral metabolism.

Young chicks were fed diets deficient in proteins, iron, niacin or thiamin to study the effects on various parameters of mineral metabolism in the duodenal mucosa. None of the treatments affected mucosal alkaline phosphatase activity; however, a five-day deprivation of protein reduced the inorganic phosphate content of mucosal cell nuclei. Iron deficiency reduced mucosal Ca, Zn, Fe and phosphate content, while niacin deficiency decreased mucosal Ca and phosphate. Thiamin deficiency reduced only the phosphate centent of intestinal mucosa. Duodenal phosphatase activity was positively correlated with tissue Ca and Fe and negatively with Zn.