Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
07:08

Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants

Published on: March 6, 2018

Developmental consequences of trace mineral deficiencies in rodents: acute and long-term effects

Carl L Keen1, Lynn A Hanna, Louise Lanoue

  • 1Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. clkeen@ucdavis.edu

The Journal of Nutrition
|May 6, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Suboptimal mineral nutrition, such as zinc and copper deficiencies, during development can cause congenital malformations and persistent health issues. These nutritional deficits impact cellular processes and gene expression, leading to lifelong health risks.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Nutritional Science
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Congenital malformations affect approximately 3% of infants, contributing significantly to infant mortality.
  • While multifactorial, suboptimal mineral nutrition during development is a potential common contributing factor.
  • Zinc and copper deficiencies exemplify how nutritional status impacts embryonic and fetal development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of suboptimal mineral nutrition in developmental abnormalities.
  • To present evidence that zinc and copper deficiencies cause structural and functional defects.
  • To explore the long-term consequences of perinatal mineral deficiencies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of evidence linking mineral deficiencies (zinc, copper) to developmental outcomes.
  • Analysis of cellular and molecular mechanisms affected by mineral deficits.
  • Examination of persistent abnormalities into adulthood.

Main Results:

  • Zinc or copper deficiencies rapidly affect the developing conceptus, causing gross structural abnormalities.
  • Deficits alter cellular redox balance, induce oxidative stress, affect cell death, neural crest cell migration, and gene expression.
  • Mineral deficiencies can lead to persistent behavioral, immunological, and biochemical abnormalities, potentially linked to epigenetic changes.

Conclusions:

  • Suboptimal mineral nutrition is a significant factor in congenital malformations and developmental abnormalities.
  • Perinatal mineral deficiencies can cause lasting health issues, including chronic disease risk, through morphological and epigenetic alterations.
  • Adequate mineral intake during development is crucial for preventing birth defects and ensuring long-term health.

More Related Videos

Micro-dissection of Enamel Organ from Mandibular Incisor of Rats Exposed to Environmental Toxicants08:12

Micro-dissection of Enamel Organ from Mandibular Incisor of Rats Exposed to Environmental Toxicants

Published on: March 29, 2018

Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes03:19

Modifying Levels of Maternal Dietary Folic Acid or Choline to Study the Impact of Deficiencies on Offspring Health Outcomes

Published on: June 28, 2024

Related Concept Videos

The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements00:57

The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements

Elements are the smallest units of matter that cannot be broken down further by chemical processes. There are 118 known elements, but not all of these are naturally-occurring, and fewer still are essential for life. Living matter is composed primarily of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen, with smaller amounts of other elements like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur. Other elements are also necessary for life but only in trace amounts.The Periodic Table Provides Information about...
The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements01:27

The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements

Elements are the smallest units of matter that cannot be broken down further by chemical processes. There are 118 known elements, but not all of these are naturally occurring, and only a few of them are essential for life. Living matter is composed primarily of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen, with smaller amounts of other elements like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur. Other elements are also necessary for life but only in trace amounts.
Periodic Table Provides Information...
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
Vitamins01:30

Vitamins

Vitamins, derived from the Latin word for life, are essential organic substances required in small quantities for optimal growth and overall well-being. Unlike other organic nutrients, vitamins don't act as sources of energy or building materials but rather facilitate these nutrients' utilization by the body. Vitamins are predominantly coenzymes, assisting enzymes in specific chemical actions, like the oxidation of glucose for energy involving B vitamins. Most vitamins are not produced in our...
Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions01:24

Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions

Drug toxicities can be stratified into pharmacological, pathological, or genotoxic based on their mechanisms. The incidence and severity of these toxicities generally increase with the drug's concentration in the body and exposure time.Pharmacological toxicity is evident when the therapeutic effects of drugs overshoot into adverse reactions in a predictable, dose-dependent manner. Central nervous system (CNS) depression from barbiturates is a classic example, with effects escalating from...
Toxicity Testing in Animals01:23

Toxicity Testing in Animals

Toxicity tests in animals are grounded on two main assumptions: first, the effects observed in laboratory animals can be extrapolated to humans, especially when adjusted for body surface area; second, high-dose exposure in animals is essential to identify potential human hazards from lower doses. This is based on the quantal dose-response concept, which faces the challenge of extrapolating results from relatively few test animals to much larger human populations. For example, a 0.01% incidence...