Interaction of Zinc and Vitamin E in the Chick

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Abstract
Chicks fed a low Zn diet (5 ppm) based on soybean protein, cornstarch and corn oil developed severe skin lesions on the toes and foot pads and gross joint abnormalities that severely impaired locomotion. Incubation of foot skin in a peroxidative buffer containing 5 ppm Cu resulted in the release of malondialdehyde or other thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. The rate of release from skin or Zn deficient chicks was 4-5 times as great as from skin of controls fed adequate zinc. Supplementation of the Zn deficient diet with fat soluble antioxidants, particularly vitamin E, decreased the severity of the skin and joint pathology. High levels of dietary vitamin E decreased the rate of release of peroxidative products from Zn-deficient skin but had no effect on control skin. A significant physiological interaction between dietary vitamin E and Zn is shown. Cells from Zn-deficient chicks evidently can benefit from incorporating higher than normal levels of vitamin E into their membrane structure. Zn apparently protects against peroxidative damage and promotes membrane integrity.