The type of dietary carbohydrate consumed during pregnancy and lactation determines copper status of the fetus and the neonate rat.

Abstract

The type of dietary carbohydrate consumed during the post-weaning stages of development greatly determines the severity of copper deficiency (Fields, et al., 1983, 1984, 1986; Redman et al., 1988). The feeding of a diet containing fructose or sucrose exacerbates the severity of copper deficiency and results in numerous pathological changes that eventually lead to the mortality of the rat (Fields et al., 1983, 1984, 1986; Redman et al., 1988). In contrast, the consumption of a copper deficient diet containing starch ameliorates the severity, the animals are protected against the symptoms associated with the deficiency and they survive (Fields et al., 1983, 1984, 1986; Redman et al., 1988).