Absorption and distribution of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) ingested by the chick.

Abstract ETHYLENEDIAMINETETRAACETIC acid (EDTA), also known as Sequestrene and Versene 100, is presently the object of considerable study in the nutrition field. O’Dell and Savage (1957) were among the first to report that the addition of certain chelating agents to chick diets appeared to make several mineral cations more available after previously being tied up by protein sources. Similar findings were reported by Scott and Zeigler (1963) and David et al. (1962). Darwish (1963) administered an oral dose of C14 labeled EDTA to laying hens. Results indicated that EDTA was probably absorbed as complexes of several minerals during the early period of the experiment. Darwish and Kratzer (1965) observed that EDTA was absorbed by chickens. It was noted that absorption of EDTA was rapid as activity was found in the blood as quickly as 45 minutes after a radioactive dose of EDTA-2-C14 was administered. Approximately 45 to 47 percent of the…