Bone Mineralization during a Developing Zinc Deficiency 1 2

Summary

Alterations in bone mineralization were examined during the progression of a zinc deficiency in rats. One hundred rats were divided into three groups and fed the following diets: zinc sufficient, ad libitum; zinc deficient, ad libitum; and zinc sufficient, pair-fed the daily intake of the deficient group. Plasma zinc concentration of the zinc-deficient group decreased dramatically during the first 24 hr of deficient diet and continued to decline over the next 2 days. Body weight gain essentially stopped after 1 week. During the experimental period of 23 days, femur zinc concentration decreased 61%, while total femur zinc decreased 37%. Yet, both the total and concentration of calcium and phosphorus increased and the Ca:P ratio remained relatively constant. The present data indicate that zinc can be released from bone during periods of dietary zinc deficiency. Furthermore, the decrease in zinc appears to be independent from calcium and phosphorus in the bone.