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Moderate zinc deficiency negatively affects biomechanical properties of rat tibiae independently of body weight
Author(s) -
Scrimgeour Angus G.,
Stahl Chad H.,
McClung James P.,
Marchitelli Louis J.,
Young Andrew J.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a627-a
Subject(s) - zinc , body weight , zoology , femur , bone mineral content , endocrinology , bone mineral , medicine , chemistry , composition (language) , osteoporosis , biology , surgery , organic chemistry , linguistics , philosophy
To guide nutritional strategies aimed at reducing the incidence of stress fractures in US Army recruits, we observed the effects of dietary zinc (Zn) on bone integrity in Sprague‐Dawley rats fed either a severely Zn‐deficient (ZnZero; 1 ppm), a moderately Zn‐deficient (ZnLO; 5 ppm), or a Zn‐adequate (ZnAD; 30 ppm) diet for 9 weeks. At the completion of the study, bone area (BA), bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) were determined by DXA. Animals were euthanized and long bones collected for determination of Zn content (forelegs) and mechanical strength (tibiae). Despite positive correlations between dietary Zn intakes and both body weight (BW) and bone Zn content (r = 0.77, p < 0.01 and r = 0.83, p < 0.01, respectively), rats fed ZnLO or ZnAD diets did not differ in BW, BA, BMC, BMD (whole body and femur), or body composition. The ZnAD fed rats had significantly higher levels of bone Zn (p < 0.01) and greater bone strength (p < 0.01) than rats fed ZnLO diets. Rats fed either ZnLO or ZnAD diets had stronger tibiae (129% increase in maximum load and stress at maximum load, p < 0.01), compared to ZnZero fed rats. Rats fed ZnAD diets, when compared to ZnZero and ZnLO fed rats, exhibit increased load at auto break (p = 0.01) and increased stress at auto break (p < 0.01). These results suggest that, despite the lack of difference in BW, BMC, BMD or body composition between the ZnLO and ZnAD rats, the ZnAD rats had stronger bones and thus may be protected from stress fractures. Research supported by US Army MRMC.