Effect of zinc supplementation on plasma zinc concentrationin malewistar rats

The study was conducted on 72 weaned Wistar male rats for 8 weeks from 4 to 12 weeks of age and they were divided into 3 groups as control: rats fed diet without zinc supplementation, T1 and T2: rats fed diet containing zinc sulphate @ 50mg and 100mg/kg body weight/day, respectively. Blood samples were collected on 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks of zinc supplementation and zinc concentration in plasma was estimated. In both the treatment groups, T1 and T2 showed an increasing trend of plasma zinc levels with advancing age and the values were differ significantly (P<0.01). Plasma zinc concentration showed no particular trend in control group with advancement of age.Significantly higher (P<0.01) T1 values recorded as compared to control values from 8 to 12 weeks of age. In T2 group, the values found significantly higher (P<0.01) from 6 to 12 weeks of age. Comparing between treatment groups, T2 levels were found significantly higher (P<0.01) than those of T1 from 8 to 12 weeks. Present study revealed that plasma zinc concentration during growth period of male wister rat was affected by zinc supplementation and zinc @ 50 mg/kg had better result than zinc supplementation @100 mg/kg body weight/day.