Bone density and tissue lead accretion in growing rats fed low high calcium with or without supplemental clinoptilolite

• Published in: Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology 1996-11, Vol.57 (5), p.713-721
• Main Authors: POND, W. G, KROOK, L. P, HO, H, SU, D.-R, SCHOKNECHT, P. A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Adsorption; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Animals, Suckling; Biological and medical sciences; Bone Density - drug effects; Bone Density - physiology; Brain - drug effects; Brain - pathology; Calcium - deficiency; Calcium, Dietary - administration & dosage; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Drug Interactions; Femur - drug effects; Femur - pathology; Kidney - metabolism; Liver - drug effects; Liver - metabolism; Liver - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Metals and various inorganic compounds; Organometallic Compounds - administration & dosage; Organometallic Compounds - pharmacokinetics; Organometallic Compounds - toxicity; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Staining and Labeling; Tissue Distribution; Toxicology; Zeolites - administration & dosage; Zeolites - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0007-4861; 1432-0800
• DOI: 10.1007/s001289900248

The cation-exchange and adsorption properties of the naturally occurring zeolite, clinoptilolite, suggest its possible role in reducing tissue uptake of ingested lead by animals. Results are presented from a study that evaluated the effect of dietary clinoptilolite and calcium levels on growth, tissue uptake, and bone morphology of growing rats fed diets containing toxic levels of Pb. The factorial study examined the effects of two levels of Ca, three levels of Pb, and three levels of clinoptilolite. The presence of clinoptilolite in the diet was associated with an increase in the gain-to-feed ratio. The concentration of Pb in liver and kidneys was lower in rats fed high Ca than in those fed low Ca, and the magnitude of the decrease in Pb accretion in both liver and kidney tissue as a result of increasing dietary Ca was significant. The addition of clinoptilolite to the diet at either 1.5 or 3.0% was not associated with a reduction in tissue concentration of Pb. However, dietary supplementation with clinoptilolite significantly increased the percentage of bone in the femur, indicating improved absorption of Ca. The concentration of Pb in liver and kidneys tended to be related linearly to the concentration in the diet.