The Effect of Selected Minerals on the Acid-Base Balance of Growing Chicks

A study was conducted to determine the relative acidogenicities of dietary supplements of the anions, chloride, sulfate, and monohydrogen phosphate (HPO4−2) in diets of young Leghorn chicks. Chloride supplements ranged from 40 to 240 meq/kg, sulfate ranged from 100 to 240 meq/kg, and monohydrogen phosphate ranged from 120 to 240 meq/kg of diet. Anions were substituted on a charge-equivalent basis for dietary carbonate (CO3–2) at 7 to 10 days of age, and blood samples were taken for measurement of blood hydrogen ion concentration, carbon dioxide tension, and bicarbonate concentration (calculated) on the 1st day and after several (usually 8) days of experiment. The effects of anions on acid-base balance were evident on the 1st day and generally persisted for the duration of experiments. Chloride consistently depressed blood pH and blood bicarbonate concentration. Sulfate was acidogenic, but less so than chloride, whereas monohydrogen phosphate did not affect blood measures of acid-base balance.