Zinc Supplementation on Nutritional Status in Rats With Cholestatic Cirrhosis

Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the effect of a zinc supplement on the nutritional status of rats submitted to bile duct ligation. METHODS: were constituted 4 groups with12 animals within each group which were divided and called: (1) bile duct ligation-zinc supplemented diet (BDLZSD); (2) bile duct ligation-standard diet (BDL–SD); (3) sham operation-zinc supplemented diet (SHAM– ZSD); (4) sham operation-standard diet (SHAM–SD). RESULTS: The mean body weight of rats in the SHAM-SD group was greater than the in the BDL-ZSD and BDL-SD groups (p<0.001). Food intake was greater in the SHAM-SD and SHAM-ZSD groups (p=0.020). The bile duct ligation groups demonstrated lower feed efficiencies than the sham-operation groups (p<0.005). The mean fresh carcass weight of the bile duct ligation groups was lower than the mean fresh carcass weight of the sham-operation groups (p<0.001). The mean body water content of the bile duct ligation groups was greater than both sham-operation groups (p<0.001). The shamoperation groups demonstrated greater mean dry carcass weights in compared with the bile duct ligation groups (p<0.001). Mean body fat was lower in the bile duct ligation groups (p<0.008). The total quantity of protein and nitrogen in the carcasses did not reveal any statistical differences between the groups (p=0.229 and p=0.422, respectively). CONCLUSION: Zinc supplementation did not increase food intake in rats with bile duct ligation or prevent nutritional damage secondary to cholestatic cirrhosis.