Nutritional evaluation of genetically modified maize corn performed on rats

Arch Tierernahr. 2002 Jun;56(3):229-35. doi: 10.1080/00039420214192.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the composition and nutritional value of conventional and transgenic, so-called Roundup Ready (RR) maize with an introduced gene of glyphosate resistance. Crude protein, crude fibre, ash, fat, starch, sugar, amino acids, fatty acid and macroelement levels were determined by chemical analysis. In both maize lines a low level of Ca (0.15 g.kg-1 DM) and of the essential amino acids lysine and tryptophan (2.6 and 1.7 g.kg-1 DM, respectively) were observed. In the biological experiment carried out on rats the tested maize lines were the only dietary sources of nitrogen, thus, the experimental diets contained 9% CP in dietary dry matter. In the feeding experiment no significant differences in the protein efficiency ratio (PER) were observed between groups receiving conventional or transgenic maize (1.51 and 1.41, respectively). Also almost equal results were obtained in the balance experiments. Both maize lines revealed a high nitrogen digestibility (84.9 and 84.5%, respectively) and the net protein utilization amounted to 63.5 and 63.2%, respectively. From these results can be concluded that regarding nutrient composition and utilisation, genetically modified (RR) maize is equivalent to isogenic maize.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids / analysis
  • Amino Acids / metabolism
  • Animal Feed / analysis*
  • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
  • Animals
  • Dietary Fiber / analysis
  • Dietary Fiber / metabolism
  • Dietary Proteins / administration & dosage*
  • Dietary Proteins / analysis
  • Dietary Proteins / metabolism
  • Digestion
  • Drug Resistance / genetics
  • Fatty Acids / analysis
  • Fatty Acids / metabolism
  • Glycine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Glycine / pharmacology
  • Glyphosate
  • Herbicides / pharmacology
  • Nitrogen / metabolism*
  • Nutritive Value
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / chemistry*
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / drug effects
  • Plants, Genetically Modified / genetics
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Zea mays / chemistry*
  • Zea mays / drug effects
  • Zea mays / genetics

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Dietary Fiber
  • Dietary Proteins
  • Fatty Acids
  • Herbicides
  • Nitrogen
  • Glycine