A Moderate Zinc Deficiency Does Not Alter Lipid and Fatty Acid Composition in the Liver of Weanling Rats Fed Diets Rich in Cocoa Butter or Safflower Oil

Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine whether a moderate zinc deficiency alters hepatic lipid composition. Male weanling rats, assigned to five groups (8 animals each), were fed low-carbohydrate high-fat diets supplemented with 7 or 50 mg Zn/kg (LZ or HZ) and 22% cocoa butter (CB) or 22% safflower oil (SF) for four weeks. One group each had free access to the LZ-CB and LZ-SF diets, one group each was restrictedly fed the HZ-CB and HZ-SF diets in matching amounts, and one group had free access to the HZ-SF diet (ad libitum control). The rats fed the LZ diets had significantly lower energy intakes and final body weights than the ad libitum control group, and lower plasma and femur Zn concentrations than the animals consuming the HZ diets. Hepatic cholesterol, triacylglycerol and phospholipid concentrations, and fatty acid composition of hepatic triacylglycerols and phospholipids did not significantly differ between the LZ and their respective HZ groups, but were greatly affected by dietary fat source. In conclusion, the moderate Zn deficiency did not significantly alter liver lipid concentrations and fatty acid composition.

Paternal Zn-deficiency abolishes metabolic effects in offspring induced by diet type

“…It is reported putatively that ZnD has a negative impact on body fat accumulation in rodents accompanied by diminished food intake and a subsequent reduction with BW gain ( Huang et al., 2007 ). Previous studies have also demonstrated that ZnD could attenuate energy intakes and final BW in about 5-week-old rats, however, there was no significance in older mice e.g., 32-week-old mice ( Salgueiro et al., 2002 ; Beattie et al., 2006 ; Weigand and Egenolf, 2017 ), which is confirmed that final BW after 4 to 6 weeks are indeed not significantly different in the ZnD rats ( Cunnane et al., 1984 ). In this study, we found that average BW gain per week was decreased in paternal Zn deficient mice no matter with the intervention of HF diet or LF diet in male mice and manifested as lower ME intake.…”

Dietary Zinc Intake and Its Association with Metabolic Syndrome Indicators among Chinese Adults: An Analysis of the China Nutritional Transition Cohort Survey 2015

“…In other studies, zinc deficiency exacerbated hepatic lipid metabolism, while zinc supplementation increased hepatocyte activity and improved lipid metabolism in the liver [ 62 , 63 ]. By contrast, E. Weigand and J. Egenolf [ 64 ] have showed that moderate zinc deficiency did not alter lipid concentration and fatty acid composition in the livers of rats fed a high-fat diet. Moreover, short-term zinc supplementation in obese patients decreased weight and TG levels without significant changes in lipid and glucose profiles [ 58 , 65 , 66 ], and, elsewhere, serum zinc levels in men were positively associated with elevated TG [ 67 ].…”

Zinc status is associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, lipid, and glucose metabolism

“…In clinical and experimental studies, it has been reported that zinc supplementation results in the total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides decreasing, and the HDL cholesterol increasing in patients [ 29 , 52 ]. Instead, Weigand and Egenolf [ 76 ] have shown that moderate zinc deficiency did not alter lipid concentration and fatty acid composition in the liver of rats fed a high-fat diet. In other studies, zinc deficiency exacerbates hepatic lipid metabolism, while Zn supplementation increases hepatocyte activity and improves lipid metabolism in the liver [ 77 , 78 ].…”