Effects of excessive intake of trace elements and westernized high-fat diet on senile dementia

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26350163
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Eating habits
• Research Institution: Doshisha Women's College of Liberal Arts (2016); Kyoto Koka Women's University (2014-2015)
• Principal Investigator: YOSHIDA KAORU 同志社女子大学, 生活科学部, 教授 (10336787)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 微量元素 / 動物行動試験 / 過剰摂取 / 高脂肪食 / 脳神経障害 / マウス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Zinc (Zn) is an essential element but excess amount of Zn is known to cause neurotoxic effects. The risk of excessive intake of Zn is increased by intake from foods plus dietary supplements. We investigated the effects of chronic exposure to Zn on a step-through passive avoidance test (PA), a Y-maze test and a novel object recognition test (NOR) in aged mice. The behavioral tests indicated the possibilities that chronic exposure to Zn dose-dependently inhibited long-term memory and object recognition memory. The increased consumption of saturated fats in a westernized high-fat diet (HFD) contributes to neurodegenerative disease and senile dementia. We investigated whether HFD influences learning and memory deficits caused by chronic exposure to Zn in aged mice. The results of PA, NOR and a fear conditioning test showed that HFD feeding might result in an increase of object recognition memory and a decrease of long-term memory or context memory.

Free Research Field

食と環境・食の安全