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Nutrient Requirements and Optimal Nutrition

Dietary Inulin Intake and Age Can Affect Intestinal Absorption of Zinc and Copper in Rats

Centre de Recherche en Nutrition Humaine d'Auvergne, Unité Maladies Métaboliques et Micro-nutriments, INRA, Theix, France

¹ To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: coudray{at}clermont.inra.fr

ABSTRACT

Nondigestible inulin-type fructan intake can stimulate intestinal mineral absorption in both humans and animals. However, this stimulatory effect may depend on experimental conditions such as the duration of the experience, mineral levels in the diet, and the animal's physiological status. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of inulin intake on Zn and Cu absorption in rats at different ages. Male Wistar rats (n = 80) of 4 different ages (2,5, 10, and 20 mo) were randomly assigned to a control group or a group administered 3.75% inulin in their diet for 4 d followed by 7.5% inulin for 26 d. Absorption of Zn⁶⁷ and Cu⁶⁵ was determined on d 21 of the experiment by fecal monitoring using Zn⁶⁷ and Cu⁶⁵ isotopes. Zn and Cu status was also assessed. Absorption of Zn⁶⁷ and Cu⁶⁵ was significantly lower in 11- and 21-mo-old rats than in 3- and 6 mo-old-rats. Moreover, inulin intake significantly increased Zn⁶⁷ and Cu⁶⁵ absorption. In conclusion, age and dietary inulin intake can significantly affect intestinal absorption of zinc and copper in rats. Further studies are required to explore this effect over longer periods of inulin intake and to test the effects of inulin in humans.

KEY WORDS: • inulin • intestinal absorption • trace elements • stable isotope • aging

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. E. Scholz-Ahrens and J. Schrezenmeir Inulin and Oligofructose and Mineral Metabolism: The Evidence from Animal Trials J. Nutr., November 1, 2007; 137(11): 2513S - 2523S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]