Deficiency effects

Reik There is one, Grf1, where the knockout has normal birthweight, but there is a growth deficiency effect between birth and weaning. It is an interesting prediction you would expect the same kind of principle to hold during suckling. 

Adverse effects of copper deficiency can be documented in terrestrial plants and invertebrates, poultry, small laboratory animals, livestock — especially ruminants — and humans. Data are scarce or missing on copper deficiency effects in aquatic plants and animals and in avian and mammalian wildlife. Copper deficiency in sheep, the most sensitive ruminant mammal, is associated with depressed growth, bone disorders, depigmentation of hair or wool, abnormal wool growth, fetal death and resorption, depressed estrous, heart failure, cardiovascular defects, gastrointestinal disturbances, swayback, pathologic lesions, and degeneration of the motor tracts of the spinal cord (NAS 1977). 

Copper deficiency effects are reported in mink (Mustela vison) and domestic swine. Copper deficiency in mink, as judged by reduced survival, occurs by feeding rations containing the equivalent of 3.5 mg Cu/kg BW daily for a period of 50 weeks (ATSDR 1990). Swine, which seem to have higher copper requirements than mink, given low copper diets equivalent to 15 to 36 mg Cu/kg B W daily for 7 days have decreased hemoglobin, hematocrit, and growth rate (ATSDR 1990). 

Data are scarce or missing on copper deficiency effects in aquatic flora and fauna and in avian and terrestrial mammalian wildlife additional studies of copper deficiency in these groups are merited. In sensitive terrestrial agricultural crops, copper deficiency occurs at less than 1.6 mg... 

Nickel is an essential micronutrient for maintaining health in certain species of plants and animals. Its deficiency effects from dietary deprivation have been induced experimentally in many species of birds and mammals. To prevent nickel deficiency in rats and chickens, diets should contain at least 50 pg Ni/kg ration, while cows and goats require more than 100 pg Ni/kg rations, perhaps reflecting the increased use by rumen bacteria. Nickel deficiency is not a public health concern for humans because daily oral intake is sufficient to prevent deficiency effects. 

Zinc deficiency effects have been produced experimentally in freshwater sponges at <0.65 pg Zn/L (Francis and Harrison 1988), in rainbow trout fed diets containing <15 mg Zn/kg FW (Spry et al. 1988), in certain species of marine algae at <0.7 pg Zn/L (Vymazal 1986), and in certain species of marine invertebrates at <6.5 pg Zn/L (Clapper et al. 1985a, 1985b) or <34 mg Zn/kg DW whole organism (White and Rainbow 1985). Zinc deficiency in natural aquatic ecosystems has not yet been credibly documented. 

The balance between excess and insufficient zinc is important. Zinc deficiency occurs in many species of plants and animals, with severe adverse effects on all stages of growth, development, reproduction, and survival. In humans, zinc deficiency is associated with delayed sexual maturation in adolescent males poor growth in children impaired growth of hair, skin, and bones disrupted Vitamin A metabolism and abnormal taste acuity, hormone metabolism, and immune function. Severe zinc deficiency effects in mammals are usually prevented by diets containing >30 mg Zn/kg DW ration. Zinc deficiency effects are reported in aquatic organisms at nominal concentrations between 0.65 and 6.5 pg Zn/L of medium, and in piscine diets at <15 mg Zn/kg FW ration. Avian diets should contain >25 mg Zn/kg DW ration for prevention of zinc deficiency effects, and <178 mg Zn/kg DW for prevention of marginal sublethal effects. 

Quantitation of urinary carnitine esters in a patient with medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency effect of metabolic state and L-camitine therapy. 

Hoffman AR, Kuntze JE, Baptista J, Baum HBA, Baumann GP, Biller BMK, Clark RV, Cook D, Inzucchi SE, Kleinberg D, Klibanski A, Phillips LS, Ridgway EC, Robbins RJ, Schlechte J, Sharma M, Thorner MO, Vance ML. Growth hormone (GH) replacement therapy in adult-onset GH deficiency effects on body composition in men and women in a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2004 89 2048-56. 

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