The present work conducted to study some trace elements status (iron, zinc and
copper) in diabetic and healthy non-diabetic rats consuming balanced diets
containing phytate (as a factor inhibiting minerals absorption) at a tested dose of 1
g/100 g diet alone or incorporated with sorbitol or mannitol (as sugar substitutes) at
a tested dose of 15 g/ 100 g diet. The experiment included 64 male albino rats which
were classified into four healthy and four diabetic groups. To achieve these
objectives, the present study included the following three main points (1)
Determination of blood hemoglobin (Hb), erythrocytes superoxide dismutase activity
(SOD), plasma glucose and ferritin levels. (2) Determination of catalase enzyme
activity and iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) contents in liver. (3) Evaluation of
fecal levels of iron, zinc and copper. The results indicated that, the fecal levels of the
studied three measured trace elements were significantly higher in both healthy and
diabetic rats fed on different tested diets. Plasma glucose levels, erythrocytes SOD
and liver catalase activities showed marked improvements in diabetic rats consumed
sorbitol or mannitol when compared to rats fed on diets containing phytate alone. The
presence of sugar substitutes not affected significantly the levels of blood Hb and
plasma ferritin. Antinutritional factor either alone or associated with sorbitol or
mannitol reduced the storage levels of iron in liver. The tested sugar alcohols showed
slight effects on zinc and copper.