Effects of Phytate and Calcium on the Reabsorption of Endogenous Zinc in Zinc-Depleted Bats

Endogenous zinc is important for maintaining zinc homeostasis because the size of endogenous zinc pool is almost 3-4 times bigger than that of dietary zinc. The purpose of this study was to examine the phytate effect on the reabsorption of endogenous zinc and the additional Ca effect on the phytate effect. Rats were fed a casein-based diet with added sodium phytate containing either high(1.6%) or low(0.8%) Ca concentrations for 4 weeks to reduce the body zinc pool. After the depletion period, $^{65}$ Zn was given by intraperitoneal injection to label the endogenous zinc pool. Rats were then assigned into phytate or non-phytate group within the same Ca group. feces were collected for 2 weeks of the initial collection period and 1 week after dietary crossover. The ratios of excreted fecal $^{65}$ Zn radioactivity of phytate group non-phytate group were determined as a measure of the phytate effect on the endogenous zinc. Mean fecal $^{65}$ Zn radioactivity was higher in the phytate group than in the non-phytate group during the entire 3 weeks of the collection period in the low Ca group, and during the initial collection period in the high Ca group(p <0.0001). This study showed an adverse phytate effect on endogenous zinc at both high and low dietary Ca levels. Elevated dietary Ca levels showed a synergistic effect on the phytate effect on endogenous zinc(p <0.05). These results imply greater phytate effect on zinc homeostasis rather than on zinc bioavailability through complexing with the endogenous zinc which is larger portion than the dietary zinc on zinc homeostasis.