Abstract
The effects of excess leucine intake on food intake, branched-chain amino acid and branched-chain alpha-keto acid concentrations in plasma and nitrogen retention were investigated in the preruminant lamb. Lambs were fed leucine in excess in either an adequate protein diet [24% of dry matter (DM)] or a low protein diet (15% DM) for 2 d. Increasing the dietary leucine content of 2.3 to 10.6 or 12.6% DM led to a significant decrease in food intake. This depressing effect was not influenced by dietary protein content. Increasing the dietary leucine content from 2.3 to 6.4% DM in an adequate protein diet for a week did not significantly improve nitrogen retention in the preruminant lamb. Plasma leucine and its alpha-keto acid concentrations increased with leucine intake. Plasma valine and isoleucine concentrations were significantly decreased only in lambs fed the highest excess leucine diet. Surprisingly, a maximal 50% decrease of their plasma alpha-keto acid concentrations occurred even in the group fed the lowest excess leucine diet. Our results might be explained by an inhibition of the rate of transamination of valine and isoleucine by high leucine concentration.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
