[Effects of zinc supplementation on zinc and calcium levels in serum and tissue in burned rats].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effects of zinc supplementation on zinc and calcium levels in serum and tissue in burned rats.


METHODS
Eighty SD rats were randomly divided into C group (control group without scald, n = 8), and N, W, H groups (each consisting of 24 rats), in which the rats were exposed to scalding resulting in partial thickness burns covering 15% of the total body surface area on the back, and then they were fed with diets containing zinc 40 microg/g in N and W groups, and 80 microg/g in H group. A cream containing zinc 761.1 microg/g was applied on the wound in W group at the same time. Eight rats of each group were sacrificed on day 1, 3 and 7 after scald respectively. Venous blood and samples of liver, femur and scald skin were harvested. Zinc and calcium contents in serum and tissues were determined with atomic absorption spectrophotometer.


RESULTS
The serum Zn(2+) levels in N, W groups were lower than C group, however, it was obviously higher in H group (up to 16.2 micromol/L) on day 1 after scald. The liver Zn(2+) showed an increasing tendency in all groups, while Ca(2+) level declined in H group, but increased in N, W group. The bone Zn(2+) and Ca(2+) levels showed a progressive declination in all groups from day 1 to 7 after scald. The changes were more obviously in N group than H group (P < 0.05). The Zn(2+) content of the scalded skin increased obviously in H group on first day after scald and in W group on 7th day after scald. The Ca(2+) contents of scalded skin showed marked increases in all groups, especially in N group, but least in W group.


CONCLUSIONS
There are obvious changes in Zn(2+) and Ca(2+) contents of serum and tissues after scald injury and zinc supplementation. The effects of zinc supplementation on calcium level in the tissue need to be further studied.
Li
Li-gen
LG
Burn Department, First Affiliated Hospital of General Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Burn Institute of People's Liberation Army, Beijing 100037, China. liligen@126.com
Guo
Zhen-rong
ZR
Zhao
Lin
L
Bao
Shan-fen
SF
Chai
Jia-ke
JK
Cong
Tao
T
Li
Zhen
Z
Han
Wen-li
WL
Lu
Guang-ming
GM
Sheng
Zhi-yong
ZY
D000818:Animals; D002056:Burns / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
D015032:Zinc; D002118:Calcium