The impact of dietary protein intake on serum biochemical and haematological profiles in vervet monkeys

Johnson, Q.; Veith, W.J.; Mouton, T.

The impact of dietary protein intake on serum biochemical and haematological profiles in vervet monkeys

dc.contributor.author	Johnson, Q.
dc.contributor.author	Veith, W.J.
dc.contributor.author	Mouton, T.
dc.contributor.department	The Primate Unit, Medical Council, Tygerburg, South Africa.	en_US
dc.date.accessioned	2020-06-08T10:18:05Z
dc.date.available	2020-06-08T10:18:05Z
dc.date.epub	2001
dc.date.issued	2001
dc.description.abstract	This study evaluated the influence of Westernised and traditional African diets on biochemical and haematological profiles in vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops). Twelve adult male vervet monkeys bred at the Medical Research Council, all over 4 years of age and weighing more than 5 kg each, were divided into two groups of six individuals. These monkeys were raised on a standard in-house diet post-weaning, before they were fed for 8 weeks on diets containing milk solids (17.2%) or maize + legume (17.4%), as sources of high crude protein (+/- 3.5 g/kg). High protein diets had no significant effect on serum biochemical indices such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) concentrations (P > 0.10). However, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) concentrations were significantly higher during week 8 (P < 0.05) for the maize + legume protein group. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP; P < 0.07), total protein (P < 0.0001), albumin (P < 0.02), and bilirubin (P < 0.003) were elevated in the milk solids group, while glucose levels were also significantly higher for the milk solids group (P < 0.05) between weeks 2 and 6. Elevated protein intake had no significant effect on haematological parameters such as red blood cells (RBC), platelet and white blood cell (WBC) counts, haemoglobin levels and monocyte and neutrophil concentrations (P > 0.10). In contrast, serum lymphocyte levels were significantly raised in the maize + legume protein group (P = 0.03), whereas values for the haematocrit (P < 0.002), mean cell volume (MCV; P < 0.03) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC; P < 0.0001) were higher in the monkeys that were fed the milk solids. This investigation showed that the type of dietary protein that is consumed may well affect certain biochemical and haematological indices in vervet monkeys. Compared to the group that were given the traditional African food regime, the animals on the Western-type milk solids diet showed significant elevations in a number of important biological indicators. However, longer-term studies should be completed in this area if we are to make firmer conclusions regarding the link between the nature of dietary proteins that are consumed and its effect on metabolism.	en_US
dc.description.sponsorship	We would like to thank Medical Research Council Primate Unit (RSA) and its staff, Dr J Seier, Ms R. Loubscher Mr C. Mdluli and Mr T. Collop, for their excellent technical support. We would like to thank the NFR and Royal Society (London) for their outstanding financial support.	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Johnson Q, Veith WJ, Mouton T. The impact of dietary protein intake on serum biochemical and haematological profiles in vervet monkeys. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL PRIMATOLOGY	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0047-2565.
dc.identifier.journal	Journal of Medical Primatology	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	https://infospace.mrc.ac.za/handle/11288/595241
dc.language.iso	en	en_US
dc.publisher	MUNKSGAARD - SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE	en_US
dc.relation.url	http://explore.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/display.do?tabs=detailsTab&gathStatTab=true&ct=display&fn=search&doc=ETOCRN095016649&indx=1&recIds=ETOCRN095016649.	en_US
dc.research.unit	Primate	en_US
dc.rights	Attribution 3.0 United States	*
dc.rights.uri	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/	*
dc.subject	Dietary protein	en_US
dc.subject	Nutritional value	en_US
dc.subject	Vervet monkeys	en_US
dc.title	The impact of dietary protein intake on serum biochemical and haematological profiles in vervet monkeys	en_US
dc.type	Article	en_US