Experimental Study on the Harms of Zinc Deficiency on Wistar Rats
January 2006
in “
Trace Elements Science
”
Studysummary This study observed that Wistar rats on a zinc-deficient diet had a higher incidence of stomach cancer when exposed to MNNG, suggesting zinc deficiency may increase cancer risk.
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The study on Wister rats demonstrated that zinc deficiency, when combined with the carcinogen MNNG, led to several adverse effects, including reduced serum zinc levels, hair loss, hair eating, weight loss, decreased immunity, and stomach mucosal hyperplasia. The incidence of stomach cancer was significantly higher in the zinc-deficient test group compared to the control group, with atypical hyperplasia observed around the gastric glands in two test group rats. The findings suggested that adequate zinc intake could protect stomach mucosa and reduce cancer risk, highlighting zinc deficiency as a risk factor for increased stomach cancer incidence.
