Effects of zinc on lipid metabolism in rats fed a high-fat diet

OBJECTIVE The effects of zinc on lipid metabolism in rats fed a high-fat diet were investigated.METHODS SD rats were randomly divided into a regular chow group and a high-fat chow group,and were both fed for 17 weeks.Levels of serum TC,TG,and HDL-c in the rats were measured to establish a hyperlipidemia model.Thereafter,the regular chow group(normal rats) and the high-fat chow group(hyperlipdemia rats) were randomly divided into 5 groups and oral gavaged for another 7 weeks with 0,5,10,15,and 30 mg/kg·bw of zinc,respectively.Serum TC,TG,HDL-c,and FFA levels in the rats were determined.RESULTS After 17 weeks of high-fat diet,levels of serum TC,TG,and LDL-c in rats fed with high-fat chow were higher than those in the regular chow group,whereas serum HDL-c level in the high-fat chow group was lower than that in the regular chow group,indicating that the hyperlipidemia model was successfully established.After 7 weeks of zinc intervention,serum TC and LDL-c levels in hyperlipidemia rats gavaged with 10 and 15 mg/kg of zinc were significantly lower than those in other zinc dosage groups.Average level of serum TG in regular rats and hyperlipidemia rats after 30 mg/kg of zinc treatment was higher than that before the treatment,and serum HDL-c level of the 30 mg dosage group was significantly lower than that of any other dosage groups.CONCLUSION Zinc is demonstrated to improve abnormal lipid metabolism in rats fed a high-fat diet;more specifically,10 and 15 mg/kg·bw of zinc intervention may alleviate the increase of serum TC and LDL-c and decrease of HDL-c in hyperlipidemia rats,while 30 mg/kg·bw of zinc may improve serum TG level and reduce HDL-c level.