Limited effects of combined dietary copper deficiency/iron overload on oxidative stress parameters in rat liver and plasma.

Copper (Cu) deficiency decreases the activity of Cu-dependent antioxidant enzymes such as Cu,zinc-superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn-SOD) and may be associated with increased susceptibility to oxidative stress. Iron (Fe) overload represents a dietary oxidative stress relevant to overuse of Fe-containing supplements and to hereditary hemochromatosis. In a study to investigate oxidative stress interactions of dietary Cu deficiency with Fe overload, weanling male Long-Evans rats were fed one of four sucrose-based modified AIN-93G diets formulated to differ in Cu (adequate 6 mg/kg diet vs.

Manganese content of soy or rice beverages is high in comparison to infant formulas.

Objective: Well-meaning but inadequately informed parents may perceive plant-based beverages such as soy beverages (SB) or rice beverages (RB) as an alternative to infant formula. Manganese (Mn) is an essential mineral nutrient found at high levels in plants such as soy and rice. Excessive Mn exposure increases the risk of adverse neurological effects.

Nephrocalcinosis caused by dietary calcium:phosphorus imbalance in female rats develops rapidly and is irreversible.

Female rats fed the standardized AIN-76A diet develop kidney calcium deposits (nephrocalcinosis, NC). A low dietary Ca:P molar ratio is a primary factor in this disorder. The AIN-93G diet has a lower P content and higher Ca:P molar ratio and lowers the incidence of NC.

Carbohydrate metabolism in erythrocytes of copper deficient rats.

Dietary copper deficiency is known to adversely affect the circulatory system of fructose-fed rats. Part of the problem may lie in the effect of copper deficiency on intermediary metabolism. To test this, weanling male Long-Evans rats were fed for 4 or 8 weeks on sucrose-based diets containing low or adequate copper content.

The carbonyl content of specific plasma proteins is decreased by dietary copper deficiency in rats.

Copper (Cu) deficiency is associated with increased susceptibility of tissue homogenates or lipoproteins to oxidation in vitro. Plasma is easily sampled and contains both lipid and protein components that may be susceptible to oxidation, making it appropriate to investigate plasma oxidation variables as biomarkers of in vivo oxidative stress. Oxidation of plasma proteins may be discernible as an increased content of carbonyl (aldehyde or ketone) groups on the proteins.