Gary J. Fosmire

Genetic influences on tissue deposition of aluminum in mice

Aluminum is a known neurotoxin and has been suggested to play a role in the development of Senile Dementia of the Alzheimers Type. The relationship between aluminum exposure and senile dementia cannot be a simple one, however, as not all exposure results in neurotoxic manifestations. To determine if there are genetic differences in susceptibility to moderate aluminum exposure, 16 mice of five inbred strains were divided into two groups. The control group was fed a purified diet containing all known requirements for mice; the experimental group was fed the same diet supplemented with 260 mg Al/kg diet for 28 d. Analysis of brains, livers, and tibias for aluminum concentrations revealed strain differences in response to dietary treatment. The most notable results occurred in the DBA/2 and C3H/2 strains, with brain aluminum levels higher in the experimental groups. In contrast, A/J, BALB/c, and C57BL/6 strains showed no differences in brain aluminum in response to dietary treatment. These findings suggest that there are genetic differences in the permeability of the blood brain barrier and lend support to the hypothesis that variability in aluminum toxicity may be, in part, genetically determined.

Effects of strontium on bone strength, density, volume, and microarchitecture in laying hens.

Strontium has been reported to have beneficial effects on bone. Treatment of laying hens, which are susceptible to osteoporosis and bone fracture, with strontium increased DXA measurements of BMD and BMC and μCT measurements of bone volume and microarchitecture and improved the mechanical performance of whole bone, but had no effect on the estimated material properties of the bone tissue.

Strontium Administration in Young Chickens Improves Bone Volume and Architecture but Does not Enhance Bone Structural and Material Strength

Genetic selection for rapid body growth in broiler chickens has resulted in adverse effects on the skeletal system exemplified by a higher rate of cortical fractures in leg bones. Strontium (Sr) has been reported to have beneficial effects on bone formation and strength. We supplemented the diet of 300-day-old chicks with increasing dosages of Sr (0%, 0.12%, or 0.24%) to study the capacity of the element to improve bone quality and mechanical integrity. Treatment with Sr increased cortical bone volume and reduced bone porosity as measured by micro-computed tomography. The higher level of Sr significantly reduced bone Ca content (34.7%) relative to controls (37.2%), suggesting that Sr replaced some of the Ca in bone. Material properties determined by the three-point bending test showed that bone in the Sr-treated groups withstood greater deformation prior to fracture. Load to failure and ultimate stress were similar across groups. Our results indicate that Sr treatment in rapidly growing chickens induced positive effects on bone volume but did not improve the breaking strength of long bones.

Variations in plasma zinc in older men and women

The study evaluated the biological and analytical variance in plasma zinc from 36 adults 60–88 yr of age. Blood samples were taken by finger-prick from each subject on d 1, 2, 3, 8, and 15. Days 1, 2, and 3 were selected to describe daily variation; 1, 8, and 15 were selected to describe weekly variation. Plasma Zn was analyzed by flame atomic absorption using a microinjection technique. Variation was partitioned into analytical, intraindividual, and interindividual components using analysis of variance. The interindividual variability was generally greater than the intraindividual variability. The variability for plasma zinc was about 30% and was substantially greater than reported for younger populations. This variability could not be attributed to the covariates examined, including zinc intake from food and supplements, serum albumin, and C-reactive protein. The variability would affect the accuracy of plasma zinc status based on a blood sample collected on a single day. With the microtechnique used in this study, 8 sample days would be needed to estimate plasma Zn with 95% confidence level and 20% level of accuracy.

Zinc status does not affect aluminum deposition in tissues of rats

To examine whether zinc deficiency would increase the toxicity of dietary aluminum, weanling, male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed purified diets containing either 2 or 30 mg Zn/kg diet, with or without 500 mg Al/kg diet for 28 d. Individually pair-fed rats were fed the 30 mg Zn/kg diet with or without added aluminum to control for inanition secondary to zinc deficiency. Rats fed the 2 μg Zn/kg diet showed evidence of zinc deficiency, including anorexia, growth retardation, and depressed concentrations of zinc in tibias and livers. Zinc deficiency did not significantly increase the concentrations of aluminum in the tibias, livers, kidneys, or regions of the brain examined (cerebrum, cerebellum, midbrain, and hippocampus). Inclusion of aluminum in the diet did not alter aluminum concentrations in the various tissues. Under the conditions of this study, zinc deficiency did not result in greater sensitivity to dietary aluminum exposure.

Zinc deficiency affects the composition of the rat adrenal gland.

The response of the adrenal gland to zinc deficiency was examined in male weanling rats. In comparison with decapsulated adrenals from ad libitum fed controls, glands from zinc deficient rats had greater relative weight (mg/g body wt), DNA concentration, and total lipid and cholesterol concentrations as well as a smaller protein/DNA ratio. Several of these differences (protein/DNA and cholesterol concentration) could be attributed to the inanition accompanying zinc deficiency, as zinc deficient values were similar to those of pair fed controls. Values for total DNA and protein concentration were similar for all groups. Electron micrographs of the zona fasciculata showed a small number of lipid droplets in the adrenals from ad libitum fed controls, an increase in lipid droplets from pair fed controls, and an even more striking increase in lipid droplets from the zinc deficient adrenals. The increased adrenal lipid composition in the zinc deficient group may be secondary to enhanced steroidogenesis or a zinc deficiency-induced defect of lipid metabolism.

Intraindividual variation in zinc intake among elderly women: The effect of diet and supplements

Abstract Thirty-six women (65–84 y) kept 3-day dietary records and recorded supplement use at three periods in time, each 28 days apart. Sources of intraindividual variation in zinc intake were examined. Mean dietary zinc intake was 7.3±2.9 mg/d; mean total zinc intake (diet plus supplements) was 11.7±9.3 mg/d. For both types of zinc intake, there was significant intraindividual variation among the time periods (p