Relation of Zinc and Calcium Concentrations in Hair to Zinc Nutrition in Rats ,

Abstract

Zinc concentration decreased substantially in newly grown hair of nearly all rats depleted of zinc by being fed diets containing approximately 2 ppm zinc. Lowered zinc concentrations in hair occurred with significantly greater frequency than decreased growth rates. Some rats with markedly decreased zinc concentrations in hair, however, maintained growth rates that did not differ from those of pair-fed controls consuming the same diet but supplemented with 20 ppm of zinc. It is concluded that zinc concentrations in hair are dependent upon zinc intake, but that they do not necessarily reflect the severity of the metabolic effects of zinc deficiency as manifested by impaired growth rates. Lowered concentrations of zinc in the hair of zinc-depleted rats were associated with elevated concentrations of calcium.