Influence of Dietary Carbohydrate on Copper, Iron, and Zinc Status of the Rat

Abstract

Rats were fed diets containing starch, sucrose, glucose or fructose as the carbohydrate source, and the influence of these carbohydrates on Cu, Fe and Zn status was determined. Cu absorption was reduced in animals receiving glucose. This reduction was exaggerated when a high level of Fe was present in the diet, indicating a possible antagonism between Fe and Cu at the site of absorption. Fe and Zn status of the animals also appeared to be influenced to some extent by dietary carbohydrate.