Abstract

AbstractZinc deficiency and essential fatty acid deficiency in rats have gross effects which are very similar. Zinc, prostaglandin E1, and dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (prostaglandin E1 precursor) all have very similar effects on rat vascular smooth muscle. Zinc deficiency has no consistent effect on tissue zinc or zinc enzymes. These observations suggest that the mechanism by which zinc deficiency affects growth and metabolism may be via inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis from essential fatty acids. This hypothesis was examined using zinc deficient rats supplemented with oils containing various concentrations of essential fatty acids. Male Wistar rats were maintained on a zinc deficient diet for 5 weeks and supplemented daily with one of three oils containing different concentrations of essential fatty acids: olive oil (mainly oleic acid), safflower oil (mainly linoleic acid), or evening primrose oil (mainly linoleic and γ-linolenic acids). The olive oil treated rats did not benefit from this treatment in ...

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