SUMMARY
Influence of dietary calcium during prenormalancy and lactation on zinc levels in maternal blood and bone, in rats
The effect of dietary calcium (Ca) level on maternal zinc (Zn) nutritional status was studied. Female Wistar rats, weighing 250-350 g, were fed during pregnancy and lactation with an experimental diet containing/100g different levels of calcium: 0.2 g (low calcium: LCa), 0.6 g (normal calcium: NCa) or 0.9 (high calcium: HCa). Maternal blood samples were drawn from the tail at delivery and at the end of lactation. Laboratory determinations were: Zn in whole blood (WB) at delivery and weaning; Zn (ZnF) and Ca (CaF) in the ashed femur at weaning. The results (mean ± SEM) were: ZnWB (m g/ml) at delivery and weaning: LCa: 8.73 ± 1.05; 12.8 ± 2.02; NCa: 3.49 ± 0.19; 3.73 ± 0.37; HCa: 3.21 ± 0.19; 3.8 5± 0.27. CaF (mg/100 mg): LCa: 19.2 ± 0.8; NCa: 21.4 ± 0.6; HCa: 20.4 ± 1.1. ZnF (m g/100 mg): LCa: 30.2 ± 0.9; NCa: 24.1 ± 0.3; HCa: 24.1 ± 0.9. ZnWB was significantly higher in LCa (p<0.0001) regarding NCa and Hca. ZnF showed an increase and CaF a decrease in LCa regarding NCa and HCa (p<0.0001). There were no significant differences in ZnWB, ZnF and CaF between NCa and HCa These results show that: there was no detrimental effect when dietary Ca content was increased by 50 % above the normal requirements of the rat.; low dietary Ca during pregnancy and lactation produced an increase of Zn utilization, reflected in maternal blood Zn and in ZnF content.

Key words: Calcium, zinc, pregnancy and lactation, nutritional status.



Recibido: 13/02/2002
Aceptado: 24/04/2003

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