Effects of Lysine and Essential Fatty Acid Deficiencies on Bone Growth and Development in the Rat

Abstract: The effects of Lysine and essential fatty acid deficiencies on bone growth and development were studied in the rat. Forty 19-day old female Wistar rats were divided into four groups of 10 rats each and fed the following diets respectively: (1) a diet adequate in both Lysine and EFA (+Lys+EFA); (2) a diet adequate in Lysine but deficient in essential fatty acid (+Lys-EFA); (3) a diet deficient in lysine but adequate in essential fatty acids (-Lys+EFA) and (4) a diet deficient in both essential fatty acids and Lysine (-Lys-EFA). Each group was placed on its diet for eight weeks. Bones were removed and the lipids estimated. (2) The mean body weights of rats on +Lys+EFA,-Lys+EFA and-Lys- EFA diets were 27.9, 37.2 and 49.7 per cent respectively less than those maintained on the control diet. The lengths and weights of the rat bones were found to decrease in the order:-Lys-EFA>-Lys+EFA> +Lys-EFA> +Lys+EFA. Acidic phospholipids were considerably reduced in proportion in the deficient rat bones. The molar calcium to phosphorus ratio of bones of rats placed on different deficient diets was significantly low when compared with the controls. It is believed that lysine deficiency accentuates EFA deficiency and that both deficiencies impair bone growth and development in the rat. Key words: Lysine deficiency, EFA deficiency, bone growt