Inanition may reduce alkaline phosphatase activity in liver and intestine of zinc-deficient mice.

Zinc-deficiency was induced in mice by feeding a Zn-deficient basal diet (ZD dietary group) containing 9% lipid (6% corn oil, 3% cod liver oil) for 8 wk. Thereafter, the corn oil was withdrawn from the basal diet and a subset of Zn-deficient animals (ZDLR group) was fed this modified low fat diet for another 8 wk. Alkaline phosphatase activity in intestine and liver was compared in these mice and in those allowed ad libitum access to the lipid-adequate Zn-supplemented diet (ZS group), in those pair-fed the Zn-supplemented diet (PF group) and in those fed the lipid-adequate, Zn-deficient diet ad libitum (ZD group). The enzyme activity in both intestine and liver of the ZDLR group was greater than in those of the ZD group and greater than or equal to those of the ZS and PF diet groups. The results of this study suggest that the reduction in alkaline phosphatase in Zn-deficient animals is a response secondary to associated inanition.