Zinkmangel und Insulinstoffwechsel

[Effect of zinc deficiency on 3',5'-cyclic-AMP content and parameters of energy metabolism in the rat]

Loss of appetite, strongly reduced feed intake, and stop in weight gain are characteristic signs of alimentary zinc deficiency. The present paper investigates some parameters of the energy metabolism of Zn-deficient rats in order to obtain information on possible disturbances. The blood of Zn-deficient rats showed an increased activity of adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) in comparison to ad-libitum- and pair-fed control animals. Therefore the concentration of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) was reduced and the concentration of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) increased in deficient animals. As a consequence, the ratio ATP/ADP was strongly reduced in Zn-deficient rats compared with both control groups. The concentration of adenosine monophosphate (AMP) was reduced in the blood of Zn-deficient rats. The levels of c-AMP in serum and urine were markedly increased in Zn-deficient rats in comparison with both control groups. Key enzymes of energetic utilization of carbohydrates such as fructose-1.6-biphosphatase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were reduced in their activities in livers and kidneys of Zn-deficient animals. The results show that alimentary Zn deficiency impairs some parameters of the energy metabolism. The problems of reduced feed intake in Zn deficiency still remain unsolved.

The effect of zinc deficiency on glucose metabolism in meal-fed rats

The incorporation of uniformly-labelled [14C]glucose into fatty acids and glycogen of adipose tissue and liver was used to assess the effects of zinc deficiency on glucose metabolism in meal-fed rats. Throughout the study, identical feeding regimens were maintained between each of the Zn-deficient groups and their appropriate controls. The feeding regimens were either meal-feeding or ad lib. feeding. Zn deficiency reduced [14C]glucose incorporation into fatty acids of epididymal fat pads of meal-fed rats by 75% when compared with meal-fed controls. Zn deficiency caused a slight but significant decrease in [14C]glucose incorporation into liver fatty acids of meal-fed fats when compared with meal-fed controls. Zn deficiency significantly increased [14C]glucose incorporation into liver glycogen of meal-fed rats in Expt. 2 but not in Expt 1. Some effects of Zn deficiency on glucose metabolism were shown to be independent of the feeding regimen when a single daily meal was given to both Zn deficient and control groups. This method of feeding may be a useful approach to study the effects of Zn on glucose metabolism in the rat.

Zinc and insulin metabolism

A review of experimental studies of the effect of zinc nutrition on insulin metabolism is presented. In addition to a short introduction to the synthesis, secretion, and action of insulin, the effects of zinc deficiency-specifically on glucose tolerance, insulin secretion, insulin synthesis and storage, and on total insulin-like activity-are dealt with. The concentrations of zinc and chromium in serum, pancreas, and liver are compared to those of zinc-deficient animals and pair-fed controls.In contrast to pair-fed controls, zinc-deficient rats had unaltered proinsulin contents after glucose stimulation, but they showed a diminished glucose tolerance, lowered serum insulin content, and an elevated total insulin-like activity. The serum zinc concentration of the deficient animals was greatly reduced and did not change during glucose stimulation, whereas it rose in the case of the pair-fed controls. The serum chromium concentration increased in both groups in response to glucose stimulation. In the pancreas of the deficient animals, the zinc concentration was reduced 60% and it increased during the glucose tolerance test. In the liver there were no significant differences. The chromium concentrations were elevated in both the pancreas and liver of the zinc-deficient rats by 60 and 100%, respectively, and were not influenced by glucose injection.These studies show clearly that nutritional zinc deficiency influences insulin metabolism and action.