Can short term free-will starvation escalate the zinc deficiency? Zinc status in animal models and human anorexia

摘要

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the serum zinc concentration in control (ad libitum feeding), chronic food deprived, and starved Wistar female rats. The serum and hair zinc concentrations were measured in control, anorexia behavior, anorexic, and free-will starve women. Methods: The zinc concentration in tissues was measured by the AAS method in spectrometer with graphite furnace. Results: Statistically significant lower levels of the serum and hair zinc in starved women, anorexia behavior women, and anorexics than in the control were found. Similar results were found in both animal models of anorexia. Conclusions: This data suggests that zinc deficiency can be induced strongly during soft food deprivation (chronic or periodic) as well as during the deep starvation (anorexia). The zinc supplementation as a standard procedure in the treatment of the anorexia nervosa or other eating disorders with food restriction periods may be necessary.