CHANGES IN BIOAVAILABILITY AND TISSUE DISTRIBUTION OF ZINC CAUSED BY MAGNESIUM-DEFICIENCY IN RATS

The effect of a Mg-deficient diet (200 mg Mg/kg feed) on the bioavaila bility of dietary Zn and the concentration of this cation in plasma, w hole blood, skeletal muscle, kidney, heart and brain of Wistar rats wa s studied after 7, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63 and 70 d. Mg deficiency signific antly decreased Zn in whole blood on day 42 of the experiment, but the re was no significant change in plasma Zn throughout the 70 d study pe riod. The Mg-deficient diet significantly increased intestinal absorpt ion of Zn, Zn balance, and Zn concentration in femur and kidney, but d ecreased Zn concentration in the heart despite the increase in dry wei ght of this organ. No change was found in brain Zn concentration.