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Long-Term Marginal Intakes of Zinc and Retinol Affect Retinol Homeostasis without Compromising Circulating Levels during Lactation in Rats
- Source :
- The Journal of Nutrition. 131:3237-3242
- Publication Year :
- 2001
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2001.
-
Abstract
- Marginal zinc or vitamin A intake is more common than previously thought in industrialized and developing countries, with pregnant and lactating women believed to be particularly at risk. However, the lack of sensitive indicators of zinc and vitamin A status precludes accurate assessment of marginal nutriture. Concurrent deficiencies in zinc and vitamin A intake often coexist, and the interaction between zinc deficiency and vitamin A metabolism may confound results from epidemiologic or intervention studies. To investigate effects of a maternal diet chronically restricted in zinc or vitamin A intake on indices of vitamin A metabolism, we fed rats a control diet (C) or a diet marginal in zinc (ZD), marginal in vitamin A (AD), marginal in both (DD) or pair-fed to DD (PF), preconception through lactation. Plasma retinol (ROH) was greater and retinol binding protein (RBP) was lower in rats fed ZD, AD and DD compared with those fed C. Hepatic cellular retinol binding protein (CRBP) expression was greater than controls in rats fed ZD and AD and lower in those fed DD, whereas RBP expression was greater in the DD- and PF-fed groups compared with rats C. Mammary gland CRBP and RBP expression were not affected by the diets. Milk ROH was lower in rats fed AD, and milk RBP was lower in those fed ZD and DD compared with rats fed C. In summary, chronic, marginal intake of zinc or vitamin A resulted in alterations in tissue retinol metabolism and milk retinol levels without decreasing plasma zinc, retinol or ROH:RBP during lactation. These observations are of concern because these parameters, which are commonly used to assess zinc and vitamin A status, may lead to misassessment of marginal zinc or vitamin A nutriture in some human populations.
- Subjects :
- Vitamin
medicine.medical_specialty
Mammary gland
Nutritional Status
Medicine (miscellaneous)
chemistry.chemical_element
Zinc
Biology
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemistry.chemical_compound
Mammary Glands, Animal
Pregnancy
Internal medicine
Lactation
medicine
Animals
Homeostasis
RNA, Messenger
Vitamin A
Nutrition and Dietetics
Retinol
Retinol-Binding Proteins, Cellular
Micronutrient
medicine.disease
Diet
Rats
Retinol-Binding Proteins
Retinol binding protein
Milk
medicine.anatomical_structure
Endocrinology
Liver
chemistry
Zinc deficiency
Female
Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 00223166
- Volume :
- 131
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- The Journal of Nutrition
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....779c3383c726a5c0e571390f0e62f5f5