Table 1.
Blood samples were drawn every week and plasma levels of cholesterol, total copper and ferrioxidase activities were determined. Each value represents the mean ± SEM of 10 rabbits. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann Whitney test.
| Daily copper intake | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 mg | 1 mg | 3 mg | 20 mg | |
| Plasma cholesterol(mmol/L/week) | 21.3 ± 1.9 | 20.2 ± 2.3 | 20.7 ± 2.2 | 20.9 ± 1.9 |
| Plasma copper(µmol/L/week) | 11.6 ± 1.1 | 14 ± 1.3 | 12.6 ± 0.7 | 17.9 ± 2.1* |
| Plasma ferrioxidase (IU/l/week) | 38.2 ± 5.1 | 42.4 ± 5.4 | 35.0 ± 3.8 | 57.6 ± 11.8* |
| Plasma copper: Ferrioxidase ratio | 0.30 ± 0.15 | 0.33 ± 0.17 | 0.36 ± 0.18 | 0.31 ± 0.21 |
*
P < 0.05 (20 mg/day vs. 0, 1 and 3 mg/day).