MODERATE ZINC-DEFICIENCY IN RATS ENHANCES LIPOPROTEIN OXIDATION IN-VITRO

Zinc inhibits low density lipoprotein oxidation in vitro. This observa tion and others provide indirect evidence that Zn affects radical-medi ated processes. This study demonstrated that moderate Zn deficiency in rats produced very low and low density lipoproteins with abnormally h igh sensitivity to copper-catalyzed oxidation in vitro (short lag time , high propagation rate). The amount of Zn in the oxidation assay did not appear to contribute to the results. Because lipoprotein oxidation in vitro seems to reflect certain oxidative processes in vivo, this s tudy strengthened the contention that Zn affects radical-mediated dama ge in vivo. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.