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Cobalt-vitamin B12 deficiency causes accumulation of odd- numbered, branched-chain fatty acids in the tissues of sheep

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

D. G. Kennedy ,
S. Kennedy ,
W. J. Blanchflower ,
J. M Scott ,
D. G. Weir ,
A. M. Molloy  and
P. B. Young
D. G. Kennedy
Affiliation:
1Veterinary Sciences Division, Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, Stormont, Berfast BT4 3SD, Northern Ireland
S. Kennedy
Affiliation:
1Veterinary Sciences Division, Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, Stormont, Berfast BT4 3SD, Northern Ireland
W. J. Blanchflower
Affiliation:
1Veterinary Sciences Division, Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, Stormont, Berfast BT4 3SD, Northern Ireland
J. M Scott
Affiliation:
2Trinity College, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
D. G. Weir
Affiliation:
2Trinity College, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
A. M. Molloy
Affiliation:
2Trinity College, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
P. B. Young
Affiliation:
1Veterinary Sciences Division, Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, Stormont, Berfast BT4 3SD, Northern Ireland
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Abstract

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Nine 5-month-old lambs were randomly allocated to two groups and were fed on either a Co-deficient whole-barley diet (n 5), or the same diet supplemented with Co (n 4). The lambs were fed on their respective diets for 28 weeks. Plasma vitamin B12 concentrations fell below the lower limit of normality after 6 weeks, and plasma methylmalonic acid (MMA) concentrations rose above the upper limit of normality after 10 weeks. However, plasma MMA concentrations fell to near normal levels towards the end of the experiment suggesting that diagnosis of more severe Co deficiency based on determination of plasma MMA concentrations may be of limited value. Analysis of tissue samples collected at slaughter revealed a marked reduction in the vitamin B12 concentration and the activity of methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (EC 5.4.99.2) in the tissues taken from the Co-deficient sheep, by comparison with the controls. Although tissue concentrations of MMA in the Co-deficient animals were not significantly different from those of the controls, we did detect increased concentrations of branched-chain fatty acids. This suggested that misincorporation of MMA, but not propionic acid, into fatty acids had occurred. The Co-deficient lambs did not develop any neurological signs, suggesting that accumulation of branched-chain fatty acids may not be involved in the development of neurological lesions.

Keywords

Vitamin B12Methylmalonic acidBranched-chain fatty acidsSheep
Type
Interactions between vitamins and lipid metabolism
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 71 , Issue 1 , January 1994 , pp. 67 - 76
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1994

References

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