THE EFFECTS OF DIETARY LEVELS OF INORGANIC PHOSPHORUS, CALCIUM AND CHOLECALCIFEROL ON THE DIGESTIBILITY OF PHYTATE-P BY THE CHICK

Male broiler chicks (1-d-old; Ross one) were given either a control diet containing recommended levels of phosphorous, calcium and cholecalciferol or experimental diets low in P and with variable levels of Ca (normal and low) and cholecalciferol (normal or high). The low-P diet with normal levels of Ca and cholecalciferol induced a hypophosphataemia and a hypercalcaemia which was reflected in reduced tibia length and weight and in reduced Ca, P and magnesium contents of tibia. The phytate digestibility remained normal while the retention of P and Ca fell significantly. The lowering of Ca alone elevated phytate digestibility and restored P and Ca retention. The hypercalcaemia and hypophosphataemia remained and tibia mineralization remained impaired. The raising of cholecalciferol alone dramatically increased phytate digestibility and the retention of Ca and P. While this remedied the hypercalcaemia, the hypophosphataemia persisted as did the diminution of tibia weight. The simultaneous lowering of dietary Ca and elevation of cholecalciferol on low-P diets restored all variables to the levels for the control diet. Circulating levels of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol were significantly elevated by low-P diets, more so with high cholecalciferol intakes. However, Ca did not influence 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol levels in plasma.