Dietary Balance of Sodium,Potassium,and Chloride Influences Plasma Uric Acid Concentrations in Chicks

Abstract

Studies were conducted to determine the influence of dietary electrolytes on plasma uric acid concentrations and daily uric acid excretion of chickens that had been selected genetically for uricemia (HUA strain) or low plasma levels of uric acid (LUA strain). Increasing dietary potassium from a nutritionally adequate level of 0.3% to 0.6, 1.0, and 1.5% of the diet resulted in no significant change in weight gain, food consumption, or net uric acid excretion, but significantly increased plasma uric acid concentrations in the HUA and LUA strains. Sodium was varied from a nutritionally adequate level of 0.3% to 0.6, 0.9, and 1.2% of the diet for the LUA strain only. Plasma uric acid concentrations increased with each level of dietary sodium. Dietary deficiencies of sodium and potassium caused reductions in plasma concentrations of uric acid. Excess dietary chloride (1.00, 1.25%) did not influence daily uric acid excretion in either strain of chickens, but depressed plasma uric acid levels in the LUA strain. The highest level of chloride depressed growth and food consumption of both strains. We conclude that the dietary balance of electrolytes influences the steady state concentrations of uric acid in plasma of chickens.