[Effects of stress on indices for assessing zinc nutrition status]

To evaluate the specificity of some functional indices in assessment of body zinc nutrition status, we used experimental rat model to observe the effects of some factors, such as forced swimming, starvation, trauma and alcohol intoxication on zinc the status. Plasma zinc levels of rats significantly decreased after trauma increased after starvation. Liver zinc content showed a rising tendency in trauma and starvation rats. Activities of superoxide dismutase in red blood cells and alkaline phosphatase, mannosidase, 5'-nucleotidase in plasma of rats with alcohol intoxication declined significantly. Starvation led to decreased activities of alkaline phosphatase and angiotensin-converting enzyme, but increased activities of mannosidase. Trauma and forced swimming could cause increase of angiotensin-converting enzyme activity and decrease of 5'-nucleotidase activity, respectively. These results indicate that physiological and pathological effects should be excluded from of the above indices as plasma zinc index, in the assessment of body zinc nutrition status.