Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 November 2021
Hill and Matrone (1970) postulated that chemically similar minerals would manifest biological similarity. As a result there would be competitive antagonism for inclusion in metabolic processes, including intestinal transport. Such interactions have been reported for copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), where the chronic over supply of Zn reduced Cu absorption (Fischer, Giroux and L'Abbe 1981). Previous work ( Lowe, Wiseman and Cole 1994) has indicated that when Zn is supplied as a chelate that antagonism to its absorption from calcium may be overcome. As many diets, specifically for piglets, now appear to contain very high levels of supplementary Zn it is appropriate to evaluate the effects of its dietary supplemental source on other mineral uptake.
24 adult female CD rats (327g, SE 4.7) were randomly divided into four groups and fed a maintenance diet (27.mg. kg-1 Cu) on a free choice basis containing 28mgZn.kg-1 to which 65mg of supplemental Zn.kg-1 from four different sources was added for the duration of the study.