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Guanidinoacetate Methyltransferase Activity in Growing Male Rats Fed on a Raw Field Bean ( Vicia faba L.) Diet

1981; Karger Publishers; Volume: 26; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1159/000459156

2504-2564

Santiago Santidrián, Francisco Javier Sobrini, José Belló, Jesús Larralde,

Diet, Metabolism, and Disease

A significant reduction (p < 0.01) in both the rate of growth and liver protein was found in growing male rats fed ad libitum over a 5-week period on a diet containing raw field bean ( Vicia faba L.) as the sole source of protein, as compared to casein-fed rats. The activity of the hepatic enzyme guanidinoacetate methyltransferase (EC 2.1.1.2) as well as the urinary output of total nitrogen and creatinine were also significantly increased (p < 0.01) in the legume-fed rats. The addition of methionine to the legume diet did not improve the antinutritive effect caused by the raw field bean. The possible nature of these effects is discussed.