Copper deficiency effects on cardiovascular system and lipid metabolism in the rat; the role of dietary proteins and excessive zinc.

Weanling rats were fed a copper-deficient purified diet. The effects of varying the type of protein and supplements of copper and zinc on cardiovascular pathology and some biochemical parameters were investigated. It was found that cardiomyopathy developed in the copper-deficient groups. Milk powder caused significant exacerbation of this development relative to dietary casein or egg white. Angiopathy developed only when dietary zinc was 20 ppm. Dietary copper did not change this situation. Serum cholesterol was elevated when copper was low and casein or milk powder were the protein source. The data point to an interaction between type of protein and dietary copper or zinc in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular lesions.