Dietary zinc restriction in rats alters antioxidant status and increases plasma F2 isoprostanes

Abstract Approximately 12% of Americans do not consume the estimated average requirement for zinc and could be at risk for zinc deficiency. Since zinc has proposed antioxidant function, inadequate zinc consumption may lead to an enhanced susceptibility to oxidative stress through several mechanisms, including altered antioxidant defenses. In this study, we hypothesized that dietary zinc restriction would result in lower antioxidant status and increased oxidative damage. We fed weanling Sprague–Dawley rats ( n =12 per group) a zinc-adequate (50 mg/kg of zinc) diet, a zinc-deficient ( P P P 2 isoprostanes. Zinc deficiency-mediated oxidative stress was accompanied by a 20% decrease ( P P P P >.05) by zinc deficiency, but cytochrome P 450 (CYP) 4F2 protein levels were elevated ( P