Zinc deficiency and supplementation in ovariectomized rats: their effect on serum estrogen and progesterone levels and their relation to calcium and phosphorus.

The aim of this study is to examine how zinc deficiency or supplementation affects estrogen and progesterone and calcium and phosphorus levels in the serum. The study was carried out on 40 adult female rats of Sprague-Dawley species. The rats were allocated to four groups: Group 1: Control, Group 2: Ovariectomized (OVX) control. Group 3: OVX-Zinc-supplemented. Group 4: OVX-Zinc-deficient. Blood samples were taken from the experimental animals by decapitation method and analyzed in terms of estrogen, progesterone, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and zinc levels. Group 1 had the highest estrogen levels (p<0.05). Estrogen levels in group 3 were higher than those in groups 2 and 4 (p<0.05). The lowest estrogen levels were found in group 4 (p<0.05). Progesterone levels were higher in group 1 than in groups 2, 3 and 4 and the same parameter in group 3 was higher than those in groups 2 and 4. The highest calcium and phosphorus levels were obtained in groups 1 and 3 (p<0.05). Calcium and phosphorus levels in group 2 were higher than those in group 4 (p<0.05). There was no difference among groups with regard to magnesium levels. Group 3 had the highest serum zinc levels (p<0.05). Zinc levels in group 1 were higher than those in groups 2 and 4 and the levels in group 2 were higher than those in group 4. Findings of the study show that zinc deficiency causes a significant decrease in calcium and phosphorus levels and that zinc supplementation prevents these adversities in ovariectomized rats.