Mild zinc deficiency and dietary phytic acid accelerates the development of fulminant hepatitis in LEC rats

Abstract

Mild zinc deficiencies caused by a low zinc or phytate-containing diet accelerate the onset of hepatitis in LEC rats without increasing copper absorption, and zinc and iron metabolism may be involved in the earlier onset of jaundice of LEC rats.

Possible role of zinc and iron in the development of hepatic abnormality in Long‐Evans Cinnamon rats

“…However, significantly low Zn and high Cu contents were only observed in the liver and plasma of the LEC rats fed PA. The results suggested that the acceleration of hepatitis was not associated with a reduction of hepatic Zn or an elevation of hepatic Cu as noted by the authors 4 . Other factors such as Fe may be involved in the phenomenon, as discussed later.…”

“…indicated that in addition to the hepatic Zn concentration, hepatic Fe in LEC rats fed a PA‐supplemented diet with high ATL and AST activity was lower than that in the control group with low or normal ATL and AST activity. However, an abnormal accumulation of Fe and Cu of about three‐ to seven‐fold higher than those of the F344 rats, which were the normal control animals, was observed in LEC rat livers of both groups 4 . The results indicated that the hepatic Fe level was negatively correlated with the Cu level in LEC rats.…”

“…and Sugawara et al . indicated the opposite observation in the relationship between Fe contents and hepatic abnormality; that is, the reduction of Fe contents initiated or accelerated hepatitis due to hepatic Cu deposition in the LEC rat 4,12 . Saito et al .…”

“…In the current issue of the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology , Saito et al . describe the effects of mild zinc (Zn) deficiency on the development of hepatitis in the LEC rat 4 . Their results showed that the onset of fulminant hepatitis was much earlier in LEC rats fed a low Zn or phytate‐containing diet compared to rats fed a regular diet.…”

“…The study by Saito et al . in the present issue is quite unique among the research on the effects of Zn on hepatic abnormality 4 . They examined the effects of Zn deficiency on fulminant hepatitis in LEC rats using a low Zn diet and phytic acid (PA).…”