Bioavailability of lysine in L-lysine.HCl

True digestibility of lysine (LYS) in crystalline L-LYS.HCl and casein determined in cecectomized adult roosters was not significantly different from 100%. Subsequent 9-d growth assays were conducted to determine the bioavailability of LYS in casein, in L-LYS.HCl, and in a mixture of crystalline amino acids simulating casein's amino acid profile. Based on slope-ratio methodology, LYS bioavailability relative to casein was estimated to be 101.4 and 99.9% in L-LYS.HCl and in the casein-simulated amino acid mixture, respectively. Procedures also were developed for assessment of LYS bioavailability in crystalline L-LYS.HCl by comparing growth responses to intraperitoneally injected (IP-LYS) and crop-intubated LYS (CI-LYS) in chicks fed LYS-deficient corn-sesame meal diets. Graded increments of pH-adjusted L-LYS.HCl were administered twice daily in .5-ml doses during the course of 8-d growth assays. Chicks receiving CI-LYS also received .5 ml of IP saline at each dosing, and those receiving IP-LYS also received CI saline at each dosing. Slope-ratio multiple linear regression of gain (g) regressed on LYS administered (mg) was assessed for both ad libitum-fed and meal-fed chicks. Linear growth responses to LYS were obtained with both routes of administration and in both feeding regimens. The CI-LYS slopes ranged from 103 to 125% of those obtained with IP-LYS administration. These results support the view that crystalline L-LYS.HCl is 100% digestible and bioavailable.