The effect of severe zinc deficiency on activity of intestinal disaccharidases and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase in the rat.

Specific activities of five enzymes were measured in intestinal mucosa of zinc-deficient rats and compared to activities in appropriate zinc-sufficient controls. Three disaccharidases were found to be significantly reduced in zinc deficiency. Alkaline phosphatase, a zinc metalloenzyme, also showed reduced activity. Activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme of cholesterol synthesis, was elevated. It is possible that impaired carbohydrate digestion (reflected in disaccharidase activity) and even defective lipid absorption (reflected in reductase activity) may contribute to the poor nutrition and diarrhea of zinc deficiency.