Effects of low-zinc status and essential fatty acid deficiency on bone development and mineralization

1. The effects of essential fatty acids (EFAs) and zinc on the development and mineralization of bones were studied in young growing rats. 2. Female weaning rats were maintained on the diets deficient in EFAs, low in zinc (6 ppm) or both deficient in EFAs and low in zinc. 3. The low-zinc status accentuated signs of EFA deficiency including reduction of the growth rate and weights of bones and resulted in greater incidences of dental caries. 4. There were qualitative and quantitative differences in the fatty acid components of lipids extracted from the femur of the rats. 5. The overall effect was that eicosatrienoic (C20:3) and arachidonic (C20:4) acids were accumulated in EFA deficiency and low-zinc state respectively. 6. Bones of rats fed a low-zinc diet containing no EFAs were totally hypomineralized while those maintained on a diet that was either low in zinc or deficient in EFAs was partially hypomineralized. 7. Dietary zinc may have some roles to play in the biosynthesis of prostaglandins from EFAs and the process of bone mineralization.