title: Influence of reduced food intake on polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism in zinc-deficient rats.
abstract: The influence of reduced food intake on metabolism of liver phospholipids (PL) in zinc-deficient (ZD) rats was measured. Wealing male Long-Evans rats were fed ad libitum zinc-deficient (2 micrograms Zn/g diet) and zinc-adequate (20 micrograms Zn/g diet) diets for 21 days. A pair-fed (PF) group was included. ZD and PF rats displayed significantly increased levels of linoleic (18:2 omega 6) and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (20:3 omega 6). Both ZD and PF rats displayed increased levels of gamma-linolenic acid (18:3 omega 6), but the increase was significant only in PF rats. ZD and PF rats displayed decreased levels of arachidonic acid (20:4 omega 6), but the decrease was significant only in PF rats. Both ZD and PF rats displayed significantly reduced levels of 22:5 omega 6. Both ZD and PF rats displayed increased products of delta 6 desaturation and decreased products of delta 5 and delta 4 desaturation. Significantly increased products of delta 9 desaturation were noted in both ZD and PF rats. ZD and PF rats displayed significant increases in C20 elongation products. ZD and PF rats displayed significantly decreased levels of omega 6 metabolites but not total omega 6 acids. ZD rats showed significantly increased levels of total omega 3 acids and omega 3 metabolites. ZD and PF rats showed significant increases in omega 9 acids but not significant changes in omega 9 metabolites. This study does not indicate that zinc affects the delta 6 desaturase in the metabolism of essential fatty acids. The aberrations previously attributed to zinc deficiency are probably due to the accompanying decreased food intake.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000378:metabolism*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D015032:Zinc / Q000172:deficiency*
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D010743:Phospholipids; D015032:Zinc