THE EFFECT OF ISOLATED ZINC-DEFICIENCY ON PARAMETERS OF LIPID AND PROTEIN-METABOLISM IN RATS FED A DIET WITH COCONUT OIL OR FISH-OIL

In the present study the effect of isolated zinc deficiency in rats wi th high food intake on parameters of lipid and protein metabolism as w ell as on concentrations of some minerals in plasma was investigated. Two experiments with force fed male rats were carried out. The first e xperiment included two groups of rats which were fed a semisynthetic d iet with or without added zinc. The dietary fat consisted of coconut o il and safflower oil (86 : 14, w/w). In the second experiment also the dietary fat was varied. In addition to coconut oil and safflower oil (86 : 14, w/w) also fish oil and safflower oil (91 : 9, w/w) were used . The investigation shows that zinc deficiency at a high food intake c hanges parameters of lipid and protein metabolism as well as concentra tions of minerals in plasma. However, the effect of zinc deficiency on these parameters was interacted by the dietary fat. Zinc deficiency i ncreased in the first experiment the concentrations of cholesterol and phospholipids in plasma. In the second experiment, zinc deficiency in creased the concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholi pids in the rats fed fish oil, but only the concentration of phospholi pids in the rats fed coconut oil. The concentrations of total protein, albumin and urea in plasma were increased by zinc deficiency in both experiments. However, the effect of zinc deficiency on these parameter s was more pronounced in the rats fed fish oil diet. Zinc deficiency a lso changed the concentrations of calcium, magnesium and phosphate in plasma, also depending on the dietary fat. The study demonstrated that the dietary fat plays an important role in zinc deficiency experiment s.