Levels of Minerals, Lipoproteins and Lipids in Plasma, Liver and Tibia from Female Rats Fed on a Zinc-Supplemented Rapeseed Protein Diet

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Abstract
In order to study the effects of a zinc-supplemented dietary rapeseed protein concentrate on the contents of zinc and some other minerals in plasma, liver and bone tissue as well as on the levels of tocopherol, lipoproteins and lipids in plasma and total lipid contents of livers, groups of young female rats were fed for 4-week periods on semi-purified diets containing either rapeseed protein or casein as the sole source of protein at a 20% protein level. Despite normal levels of tissue zinc and plasma proteins, rats on diets containing rapeseed protein showed reduced contents of plasma lower density lipoproteins and tocopherol in comparison to the casein-fed rats. Rats on rapeseed diet also seemed to have an increased lipid content of the liver possibly indicating a reduced hepatic synthesis or secretion of lipoproteins. In addition the livers of rats fed on rapeseed protein diet showed a reduced iron content.