Metabolic dependence of intestinal uptake and and transfer of different zinc compounds after deficient and adequate zinc intake

Nickel deficiency alters nickel flux in rat everted intestinal sacs

This study was conducted to determine nickel absorption in nickel-deficient rats. Jejunal segments obtained from dietary nickel-depleted (13 microg nickel/kg diet) and nickel-control (1 mg nickel/kg diet) adult rats from the first generation, and suckling pups from the second offspring were used. The nickel transfer across the intestinal epithelium and nickel uptake into the intestine were measured by use of everted jejunal sacs using a wide range of nickel concentrations administered on the luminal side (1.1 x 10(-8) M til 1.0 x 10(-4) M). Both the intestinal nickel transfer and nickel uptake were influenced by the dietary nickel supply in rat offspring, but not in the adult rats from the first generation. However, in nickel-deficient offspring, the nickel transfer across the small intestine was higher than in nickel-control offspring. This difference was greater using low intraluminal nickel concentrations than high nickel concentrations, and was significant at 1.1 x 10(-8) M, 6.1 x 10(-8) M, 5.1 x 10(-7) M, 1.0 x 10(-6) M, and 5.0 x 10(-6) M. Also, nickel uptake into the intestine was somewhat greater in nickel-deficient rat pups than in nickel-control pups, and significant using 1.1 x 10(-7) M and 1.0 x 10(-6) M nickel. A definite saturation type kinetic for the intestinal nickel absorption in relation to the intraluminal nickel concentration could not be observed.

[Estimation of the zinc requirement for broilers using their ability for selective zinc absorption and by dose-response relations]

Broiler chicks are able to select an adequate dietary Zn-concentration in choice-feeding. The zinc requirement should be ascertained by this method of self-selection. 72 day-old chicks were divided into 9 groups and were kept over 5 weeks in individual cages. By gradually supplementing ZnSO4.7H2O to a semisynthetic basal diet with isolated soybean protein 5 diets were made with Zn-concentrations of 14, 22, 30, 38 and 50 ppm, which respectively were fed to one group. The four other groups had to choose between two rations: 14/38; 14/50; 22/38; 22/50. Selective zinc intake was represented by a significant increase of dietary zinc concentration compared to random selection (mean of both diets). Feed intake, zinc intake and weight gain were measured daily and the end total feed consumption, live weight, feed conversion rate, plasma-zinc concentration and plasma-zinc binding capacity at the end of the experiment. In comparison optimal dietary zinc levels were estimated by dose-response relations, both by sigmoid growth curves and by broken-line model. With 30 ppm Zn chickens reached a high fattening level with daily weight gains of 60 g. Feed intake and growth rate were markedly reduced at a dosage of 14 and 22 ppm Zn, feed conversion rate was tendentially decreased below a level of about 34 ppm, whereas above zinc binding capacity reached a plateau. Birds self-selected a dietary zinc level of 32 ppm, which were adequate for the criteria feed intake and weight gains. Zinc requirements of about 40 ppm were assessed by conventional methods.

Low-molecular-weight zinc-binding ligand: a regulatory modulator for intestinal zinc transport

1. In the last two decades, vast numbers of studies on the zinc nutriture of animals and man have been made. However, the biochemical and physiological events in controlling zinc nutrition are still poorly understood. This report concerns the progress made toward understanding the intestinal zinc absorption and secretion mechanisms. 2. Evidence is accumulating that zinc absorption is a facilitated diffusion while zinc secretion is an active transport. 3. It is known that a low molecular weight zinc-binding ligand (LMW-ZBL) is a key regulator of intestinal zinc absorption, possibly a carrier molecule across the intestinal mucosal cells. Some high molecular weight zinc-binding ligands also appear to be involved in regulating intestinal zinc transport. 4. The identity of the LMW-ZBL is a matter of controversy and its specific role in regulating intestinal zinc transport is not well defined. 5. According to the available literature, no systemic investigations have been made to elucidate the intestinal zinc transport mechanisms, and much more information is needed to fully understand them.

[Influence of picolinic acid and citric acid on intestinal absorption of zinc in vitro and in vivo]

The influence of the ligands picolinic acid and citric acid on the intestinal absorption of zinc was studied in two different experimental trials with Zn-depleted and Zn-supplied pair-fed rats using everted sacs in vitro and the ligated small intestine in vivo. ZnSO4 was applied in water solution (pH 5.8) without ligands or together with picolinic acid at a molar ratio of 1:0.2, 1:2, and 1:20 or together with citric acid at a molar ratio of 1:1, 1:10, and 1:100. The intestinal Zn transfer of the Zn-depleted rats with picolinic acid is significantly increased only at a molar ratio of 1:20 (zinc:ligand) (P less than 0.001). The other in vitro results of Zn absorption were only slightly improved, mainly at the high molar excess of picolinic acid in comparison to ZnSO4 without ligands. Only a tendency for an increased Zn transfer--however, already at a narrow molar ratio of 1:1 or 1:10--could be seen when citric acid was added. The intestinal uptake was not influenced by citric acid. The absorption of zinc in vivo did not vary in dependence of the addition of picolinic or citric acid in different molar ratio in comparison to ZnSO4 addition without ligands. Zn-depleted rats showed a significantly higher Zn absorption rate than Zn supplied pair-fed rats independently of the kind of ligand and the zinc:ligand ratio (P less than 0.001). These results are discussed in detail.

[Effect of different concentrations of various zinc complexes (picolinate, citrate, 8-hydroxyquinolate) in comparison with sulfate on zinc supply status in rats]

12 groups of 8 young male Sprague-Dawley rats received a semisynthetic casein-diet, whose zinc concentration (1.3 ppm) was adjusted to 5, 10 and 15 ppm by supplementation of various Zn complexes or salts like Zn citrate, Zn picolinate, Zn 8-hydroxyquinolate and Zn sulfate. After 24 days all animals were killed and examined on parameters of zinc supply status. The weight gain of the animals with 5 ppm dietary zinc was strongly reduced compared to groups with the higher dietary zinc content. The type of the supplemented Zn compound showed in no way an influence on the live-weight of the animals. The zinc concentration of the tissues, too, was only dependent on the level of the dietary zinc concentration and not on the type of supplemented zinc compound. The activity of the alkaline phosphatase in serum, a zinc metalloenzyme, was altogether reduced in the zinc-deficient animals with 5 ppm dietary zinc content, but showed a significant higher activity in the citrate and 8-hydroxyquinolate group than in the sulfate and picolinate group. Also the percent zinc-binding capacity of serum, a good indicator for estimating the zinc supply status of rats, showed a better zinc supply of the citrate group with 5 as well as 10 ppm dietary zinc, compared with the other groups on the same dietary zinc content. The serum zinc concentration of rats with 5 ppm as Zn citrate was more than twice higher than in animals given zinc as picolinate, 8-hydroxyquinolate or sulfate. The results indicate a better utilization of zinc chelated by citric acid than by picolinic acid, 8-hydroxyquinoline or as salt like sulfate. But the higher bioavailability of zinc in human milk should not only be attributed to the presence of citrate.

[Influence of age and sex on in vitro intestinal absorption of zinc and manganese]

The influence of age and sex on the intestinal in vitro absorption of the trace elements zinc and manganese was studied with SPF-Sprague-Dawley-rats. For this purpose the absorption was measured with animals of both sexes starting at once after the weaning period (17 to 20 days) until an age of maximal 80 days. The measurements were made continuously in periods of a few days. The results of a total of five experimental series show that the transfer to the serosal solution and the uptake of the intestinal wall of both elements decrease permanently with increasing age. The most severe decrease occurs, however, at an age of the rats between 20 and 40 days, that is shortly after the weaning period. The previous change of the diet, however, cannot be the main explanation for the significant alteration of the absorption. In order to test this possibility the rats were only fed with the milk of their mothers up to an age of 36 days, while the control groups received already a pelleted casein diet starting with an age of 18 days. The results of these experiments were that the milk-fed rats absorbed only somewhat more zinc or manganese than did the corresponding control groups. There were no significant differences in the amounts of Zn absorption between male and female rats.

[Intestinal absorption of zinc during gravidity and lactation (author's transl)]

In two experimental series the absorption of zinc was continuously studied during gravidity and lactation with Sprague-Dawley rats of the same age. The absorption was measured in vitro with isolated, everted intestinal sacs. During the first third of gravidity the absorption of zinc--based on the intestinal Zn transfer to the serosal solution and the Zn uptake into the intestinal wall--rose at first slightly, during the second third it continued to increase, whereas there was a highly significant increase during the last third of gravidity in comparison to nongravid, nonlactating control animals (P less than 0.001). Shortly before parturition the absorption already started to fall and continued to do so during lactation. Therefore, Zn absorption was higher only in the first days of lactation in comparison to the controls (P less than 0.05). Reasons were discussed for these changes in the absorption during gravidity and lactation.