Copper utilization in low fat diets

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate both the dietary copper utilization and the body copper content in rats fed either low fat diets (2%) or normal fat diets (8%) containing olive oil, sunflower oil and palm oil (olein fraction), by two different balance techniques. Seven groups of Wistar rats were used. One group was killed on the first experimental day being utilized as control of initial body copper content. Six groups of rats were fed, over 15 days, semipurified diets varying only in the fat level, three of them containing 8% of fat, and the other three 2%. The overall copper balance was studied by calculating differences between the initial and final body copper content. During the last week, another copper balance was carried out by monitoring intake and faecal copper excretion. Body mass, and liver, spleen, skin, erythrocytes and serum copper contents were also examined. The copper utilization was lower in 2% fat rats, this was caused by food intake decrease but also by the lower copper bioavailability in 2% fat diets. The corporal, liver and spleen copper contents were reduced, and liver, skin and serum copper concentrations also decreased in the rats fed on 2% fat diets. Palm olein (8%) versus olive and sunflower oil produced a lower efficiency of copper absorption.