Decreased plasma lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase activity in copper-deficient rats

The effect of dietary copper deficiency on rat plasma lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity was examined. Three groups of rats were used: ad libitum-fed copper-deficient group (0.6 microgram Cu/g diet); pair-fed control group (5.9 microgram Cu/g diet); and an ad libitum-fed control group (5.9 microgram Cu/g diet). Copper deficiency produced a significant hypercholesterolemia (57% increase, P less than 0.001) in 63 days with a significant increase in plasma free cholesterol (44%, P less than 0.001). Despite the significant increase in plasma free cholesterol, fractional and molar LCAT activity were markedly decreased (74.2%, P less than 0.001 and 63.7%, P less than 0.005, respectively) in copper-deficient rats. The results of this study suggest that dietary copper deficiency affects LCAT activity.