Postprandial plasma zinc changes in pigs

In growing male pigs fitted with jugular catheters, changes in plasma zinc concentrations were followed up to 330 min postprandially. In pigs with normal fasting zinc values (greater than 70 micrograms/100 ml) plasma levels decreased significantly (p less than 0.05) up to 35% below, whereas in pigs with lowered fasting values plasma level increased up to 36% above the respective fasting values within 120 and 180 min after feed intake. The amount of feed administered was without effect on the postprandial decline. No dose-response relationship between the intake of graded amounts of zinc in the inorganic (ZnSO4) or naturally bound form (barley) and changes in plasma zinc level was found.