A Study of the Effects of Clay Eating on Iron Status and Growth Rate Using Rats

Abstract

In this study, the effects of clay ingestion on iron status and other anaemia factors were investigated using rats. Rats were fed clay at the levels consumed by Ghanaians (weight for weight) who have clay pica habit. A total of 28 white stock weanling rats, aged 3 weeks, were fed experimental diet containing clay for 11 weeks, an equivalent of four years in humans on lifespan basis. The rats were randomly assigned to four different experimental diets containing different levels of clay: a control diet, 0.00g clay/100g diet; test diet I, 0.95g clay/100g diet; test diet II, 6.43g clay/100g diet; test diet III, 1.57g clay/100g diet. Data on packed cell volume (PCV), serum iron concentration and haemoglobin level were collected. Body weights and lengths of the rats were measured weekly to assess the effect of clay ingestion on growth. Weights of essential body organs; kidney, liver, spleen and heart were also measured. Results, showed that rats on the control diet had mean haemoglobin concentration, 14.4g/dL, significantly lower than those on the test diets: test diet I, 17.6g/dL (P < 0.019); test diet II, 17.4g/dL (P < 0.020); and test diet III, 16.0g/dL (P < 0.040). The PCV followed a similar trend, rats on the test diets had significantly higher PCV, P < 0.05, when compared to rats on the control diet.-However, all the measured concentrations were within normal range; Serum iron concentration was highest for the rats on test diet II compared with rats on the control diet, 9.33 versus 3.29 mg Fe/100ml respectively, P < 0.0001. No significant differences were observed among the rats on the diet groups in terms of linear growth, body weight and appearance of essential body organs. It was concluded that: the type of clay commonly ingested in Ghana improved haemoglobin level and serum iron concentration of rats. Thus, clay consumption was not associated with anaemia in rats