Aim The effect of zinc deficiency and zinc replenishment on the distribution of elements in rats. Methods SD rats were randomized into zinc-deficient diet (ZD) group, pair-fed (PF) group, zinc normal group (ZN), zinc supplemented (ZS) group and high zinc (HZ) group. ZD group, ZN group, and HZ group were fed up with zinc deficient dietary (content of zinc< 1 mg/kg), zinc-normal dietary (50 mg/kg) and high zinc dietary (150 mg/kg) for 8 weeks respectively. ZS group were fed with zinc deficient dietary for 3 weeks, then changed to be treated with high-zinc dietary for 5 weeks. PF group were fed with zinc normal dietary according to the actual quantity of ZD group at the former day. All of the rats were killed after 8 weeks. The concentration of Zn, Cu, Fe, and Ca in serum were measured with polarography and with atomic absorption spec-troscopy (AAS) in liver, kidney, spleen, and testicle. Results The concentration of Zn, Fe in serum, liver, spleen, kidney, testiele and Cu in kidney, spleen decreased significantly owing to zinc deficiency, while the concentration of triglyceride, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein and low density lipoprotein in serum remained the same. Conclusions Zinc deficiency not only decreased zinc concentration in organism directly, but also affected the metabolism and distribution of elements. However, it didn' t affect serum significantly.