Effects of dietary garlic on cholesterol metabolism in laying hens.

Experiments were conducted to evaluate the potential for dietary garlic to influence egg yolk cholesterol concentrations and overall performance in different layer strains. Thirty-six, 28-wk-old, Hisex Brown,Isa Brown, Lohmann, Starcross, Babcock, and Starcross-579 strains (six hens per strain) were fed diets supplemented with 0 (control), 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10% sun-dried garlic paste for 6 wk. There were no differences (P > 0.05) among diets or strains in egg weight, egg mass, feed consumption, feed efficiency, and BW gain as averaged over 6 wk. Yolk weight, however, responded quadratically with increasing levels of dietary garlic and differed among strains (P < 0.05). Egg production and yolk weights were significantly higher in the Babcock strain in comparison with other strains. Serum and egg yolk cholesterol concentrations decreased linearly (P < 0.05) with increasing levels of dietary garlic. Serum and egg yolk cholesterol concentrations also differed among different strains (P < 0.05). It was concluded that garlic paste in the diets of laying hens reduced serum and yolk cholesterol concentrations. It was also concluded that dietary garlic paste had no adverse effects on layer performance.

Zinc in post prostatic massage (VB3) urine samples: a marker of prostatic secretory function and indicator of bacterial infection.

The value of biochemical examination of post-prostatic massage (VB3) urine samples has been investigated. Measurement of zinc levels provides a good marker of prostatic secretory function. In the absence of prostatic carcinoma findings of greater or equal to 100 micrograms zinc in VB3 urines is strong evidence (2% false negatives) of an absence of infectious or inflammatory prostatic disease. Less than 40 micrograms of zinc is suggestive (14% false positives) of prostatitis. There is little need to consider the endogenous urinary zinc levels. This simple test should be of particular value in cases where an expressed prostatic secretion is not obtained (about 40% of this series of patients), when it would be a valuable adjunct to cytological and bacteriological examination of split urine samples.