The effect of a high level of dietary leucine on the niacin status of chicks and rats

Abstract

Baby chicks were fed purified diets containing 90 g/kg casein and 100 g/kg gelatin. With low levels of niacin and tryptophan, niacin deficiency resulted: this was not exacerbated by the addition of supplementary leucine (17.4 g/kg). With levels of niacin and tryptophan that supported rapid growth the further addition of supplementary leucine depressed food consumption and weight gain; in most instances this was statistically significant. No evidence was obtained to indicate that a high level of dietary leucine could result in niacin deficiency in chicks. Comparable experiments were carried out with weanling rats given a basal diet containing 60 g/kg casein and 60 g/kg gelatin. Adding 15 g/kg L-leucine gave results similar to those obtained with chicks and the same conclusions were drawn.