Table 1

Plasma biochemical markers and hormones

Groups (n)
Control diet (10)
Low-zinc diet (10)

Total protein (g/dL)
5.55 ± 0.23
4.39 ± 0.14**
Albumin (g/dL)
3.98 ± 0.20
3.23 ± 0.10**
Glucose (mg/dL)
166 ± 13
169 ± 17



Total cholesterol (mg/dL)
65.5 ± 1.8
53.3 ± 4.8*
Phospholipid (mg/dL)
136 ± 5
106 ± 7**
Free fatty acid (mEQ/L)
735 ± 163
409 ± 31
Triglyceride (mg/dL)
57.3 ± 25.3
28.5 ± 4.7



Blood urea nitrogen (mg/dL)
11.9 ± 0.8
12.7 ± 0.7
Creatinine (mg/dL)
0.17 ± 0.01
0.17 ± 0.02



AST (GOT) (IU/L)
147 ± 19
204 ± 30
Lactate dehydrogenase (IU/L)
571 ± 188
263 ± 63
Alkaline phosphatase (IU/L)
883 ± 40
497 ± 62**



Sodium (Na) (mEQ/L)
139 ± 2
142 ± 1
Chlorine (Cl) (mEQ/L)
99.6 ± 1.9
100.5 ± 1.9
Potassium (K) (mEQ/L)
4.74 ± 0.30
3.97 ± 0.20
Calcium (Ca) (mg/dL)
9.51 ± 0.26
9.12 ± 0.30
inorg. Phosphorus (iP) (mg/dL)
4.50 ± 0.36
3.82 ± 0.25
Zinc (Zn) (mg/dL)
107.2 ± 0.8
61.8 ± 4.2**



Growth hormone (ng/mL)
7.66 ± 1.96
6.57 ± 0.90
Luteinizing hormone (ng/mL)
3.07 ± 0.55
1.37 ± 0.14**
Testosterone (ng/mL)
1.26 ± 0.16
0.31 ± 0.07**
Corticosterone (ng/mL)
427 ± 48
418 ± 43

Data are means ± SEM.

** and *Significantly different from that of the Control; p < 0.01 and 0.05, respectively.

Ishikawa et al. Nutrition & Metabolism 2008 5:12   doi:10.1186/1743-7075-5-12