title: Dietary subacute zinc deficiency and potassium metabolism.
abstract: In a controlled animal experiment the effects of dietary subacute Zn deficiency on growth, Zn concentration, and tissue 42-K distribution were studied. Growth retardation caused lower body weight because both skeletal and heart muscle showed a reduction in cell mass. Zn concentrations were reduced in most tissues, however, they remained unaltered in heart muscle. 42-K activity increased in skeletal muscle and pancreas. We hypothesize the latter reflects the organs rate of metabolism, inducing the exocrine pancreas to increase Zn absorption; in skeletal muscle it may induce also alterations in cell potentiation, causing restless behavior. As suggested by the calculated specific K activity (Bq/mol), the K uptake was highest in liver and bone, high in pancreas and skeletal muscle and low in heart muscle. The latter suggests K retention in heart muscle. Specific activity in plasma and jejunum remained unaltered: K status and absorption seem unaffected. Zn deficiency causes different 42-K activities in the various tissues, that respond by alterations in K metabolism without the induction of K deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Drechtsteden Hospital Jacobus Langeweg, Zwijndrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Wouwe
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Veldhuizen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D004032:Diet; D006321:Heart / Q000254:growth & development; D007553:Isotope Labeling; D008297:Male; D024510:Muscle Development; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D010179:Pancreas / Q000378:metabolism; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency*
chemical_list: D015032:Zinc; D011188:Potassium