Zinc deficiency is associated with suppression of colonocyte proliferation in the distal large bowel of rats.

As zinc status may influence susceptibility to colon cancer, we examined the effect of dietary zinc deficiency on the proliferation of epithelial cells (colonocytes) in the large bowel of rats. When compared to feed-restricted rats, those with zinc deficiency showed a significant reduction in proliferation in the distal colon as assessed by accumulated metaphase arrest and crypt cell production rates in vivo. Zinc deficiency had no apparent effect on thymidine kinase activity in colonocytes but was accompanied by minor changes in fecal mass and fecal pH. In rats, zinc deficiency is associated with a reduction in the rate of proliferation of colonocytes in the distal colon.