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, O.OOg clay/1 OOg diet; test diet I, 0.95g clay/1 OOg diet; test

diet II, 6.43g clay/1 OOg diet; test diet III, 1.57g clay/1 OOg 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 1,17.6g/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