Dietary vitamin E deficiency and zinc metabolism.

In adult rats, the influence of vitamin E deficiency on zinc metabolism in general and specifically in 15 tissues was studied. After 50 days, we found evidence of vitamin E deficiency and at this time point we injected a tracer amount of 65Zn. During the next 18 days the zinc status was unaffected. The zinc metabolism, however, was altered: the apparent retention increased and the biological half life was prolonged. On day 68, the changes in various tissues varied. Some tissues were affected in zinc concentration (higher in plasma and spleen; lower in cerebrum, fur and tail), others in specific activity (higher in pancreas; lower in cerebellum). The different effects may reflect differences in tissue response on impairement, caused by vitamin E deficiency.