INFLUENCE OF MULTIPLE MICRONUTRIENT INSUFFICIENCY ON VITAMIN AND MINERAL STATUS OF RATS

Abstract

Multiple alimentary deficiency of micronutrients (all vitamins, calcium, magnesium and iodine) in growing rats (51.4±0.5 g) was caused by a 2-fold decrease in the content of calcium, magnesium and iodine in the mineral mixture and 5-fold of all vitamins in the vitamin mixture in the semi-synthetic diet. It was accompanied by a decrease of the brain content of magnesium (25,2%, p=0.003) and copper (8-fold, p<0.001) with simultaneous accumulation of liver level of zinc, iron and manganese by 12.0%, 19.5% and 23.4%, (p<0.05) accordingly. Despite the equal content of these trace elements in the diet of rats from both groups (12 animals in each) they were redistributed among organs in animals with multiple micronutrient deficiency. Blood plasma concentration of calcium increased by 3.6% (p=0.001) while its urinary excretion decreased by 1.5 fold (p=0.033) and brain content increased by 16.0% (p=0.012). Phosphorus reabsorption decreased by 7.8% (p<0.001), whereas its urinary excretion 1,7-fold increased (p<0.001). Against the background of deterioration of vitamin status indicators, the ratio of γ- and α-tocopherols in blood plasma increased 2.7 times (p=0.024). A number of diagnostically significant blood parameters had been changed. The concentration of glucose increased by 13.3% (p=0.001), urea – by 43.9% (p=0.020), direct bilirubin – by 2.1 fold (p=0.052), and a slight increase in protein by 5.4% was observed (p=0.028). Multiple alimentary deficiency of micronutrients can contribute to the progression of many diseases or complicate their diagnosis.