Effect of zinc sources and experimental conditions on zinc balance in growing wethers

Three experiments were conducted with growing wethers to evaluate apparent excretion and retention of Zn from various sources. In Exp. 1 and 2, Zn-ethylene diamine (ZE), Zn hydroxychloride (ZHYD), Zn-lysine/glutamate (ZAA), and Zn-glycinate (ZG) were used and ZnSO4 (ZS), Zn hydroxychloride (ZHYD), Zn-lysine/glutamate (ZAA), and Zn-glycinate (ZG) were used in Exp. 3. In Exp. 1, 8 wethers were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin Square design. In Exp. 2 and 3, 40 wethers were used in a randomized block design. In Exp. 1, each period (total 4 periods) consisted of 14-day diet adaptation and 4 days of total collection of feces and urine. In Exp. 2 and 3, wethers received a basal diet for 14 days and received experimental diets for 9 days (diet adaptation), followed by 4 days of total collection of feces and urine. Total collection was conducted in wooden metabolic cages. All data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS as a Latin square design for Exp. 1 and a completed randomized block design for Exp. 2 and 3. In all experiments, dry matter intake did not differ among treatments except that it tended to be different in Exp. 2. In Exp. 1, no difference in Zn excretion (88%) and retention (11%) as proportion of Zn intake was observed among Zn sources. In Exp. 2, total tract digestibility of crude protein was greater (P < 0.01) for ZAA than ZE and ZG (82.0 vs. 79.1 and 77.8%, respectively) and greater (P < 0.01) for ZHYD than ZG (80.2 vs. 77.8%). However, total tract digestibility of neutral detergent fiber was low (on average 16%) for all treatments with no difference among treatments in Exp. 2. Apparent excretion and retention of Zn as proportion of Zn intake did not differ among treatments, and Zn retention (~1.4% of Zn intake) was very low for all treatments. In Exp. 3, ZHYD and ZAA had greater retention of Zn (17.8 vs. 1.5%; P = 0.01) than ZG. Fecal Zn excretion was greater (97.3 vs. 81.2%; P = 0.01) for ZG vs. ZHYD and ZAA, and Zn retention for ZG was only 1.5% of Zn intake. In conclusion, potential increases in Zn absorption and retention were observed for ZHYD and ZAA compared with ZS and ZG in Exp. 3 and these differences were not found in Exp. 1 and 2. Experiment 1 used a Latin square design and Exp. 2 used a diet containing largely undigestible fiber. These experimental conditions may have affected Zn metabolism in wethers. Inconsistent results on Zn balance for ZG among the experiments warrant further studies regarding its bioavailability.

Zinc Adequacy Is Essential for the Maintenance of Optimal Oral Health

Zinc, a metal found in the Earth’s crust, is indispensable for human health. In the human body, around 60% of zinc is present in muscles, 30% in bones, and the remaining 10% in skin, hair, pancreas, kidneys and plasma. An adequate zinc balance is essential for the maintenance of skeletal growth, development and function. It is also necessary for basic cellular functions including enzyme activation, cell signaling and energy metabolism. Inadequate zinc status is associated with a wide variety of systemic disorders including cardiovascular impairment, musculoskeletal dysfunctions and oromaxillary diseases. In this article, we briefly discuss the role of zinc deficiency in the genesis of various oromaxillary diseases, and explain why adequate zinc homeostasis is vital for the maintenance of oral and general health.

Altered zinc balance in the Atp7b−/− mouse reveals a mechanism of copper toxicity in Wilson disease

Copper accumulation in the Atp7b−/− model of Wilson disease impacts zinc distribution.