Summary : A camel’s adaptation to desert conditions involves remarkable metabolic and physiological mechanisms. Resistance to mineral undernutrition is one aspect of this adaptation. Recent basic research has thoroughly investigated the metabolism of key minerals (calcium, phosphorus, sodium, chloride, magnesium) and trace elements (copper, zinc, selenium). The results show the diversity of the mechanisms involved, i.e. increased absorption capacity in shortage periods, higher storage capacity, tolerance for minerals in excess, maintenance of enzymatic activity in deficiency periods. |
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