Co-supplementation of Zinc and Calcium Suppresses Bio-absorption of Lead in Sprague Dawley Rats.

Lead (Pb) is a widespread environmental toxicant and its toxicity causes huge health impacts. The present study was conducted to examine the protective role of zinc (Zn) and calcium (Ca) supplements against bio-absorption of Pb in blood and organs including the liver and kidney. Hence, Sprague Dawley rats were divided in to five groups. G 1 served as negative control and was provided with standard diet, G 2 as positive control receiving standard diet + PbAc (20 mg/kg BW), G 3 was provided with standard diet + PbAc (20 mg/kg BW) + ZnSO 4 (20 mg/kg BW), G 4 with standard diet + PbAc (20 mg/kg BW) + CaCO 3 (7.5 g/kg BW) whereas G 5 was fed on standard diet + PbAc (20 mg/kg BW) + ZnSO 4 (20 mg/kg BW) + CaCO 3 (7.5 g/kg BW). The salts were provided as solution, dissolved in 0.5 mL distilled water via orogastric tube. After 35 days, the overnight fasted rats were decapitated, and blood and organs were collected for analysis of levels of metals and liver and kidney function tests. The results depicted significant decrease in Pb concentration in blood and organs while increase in Zn and Ca absorption was observed as a result of Zn and Ca supplementation with Zn being better than Ca alone, specially however, combined effect of these supplements was more profound in improving liver and kidney stress biomarkers and maintained the normal architecture of renal and hepatic parenchyma. It was concluded that Zn and Ca co-supplementation hinder Pb absorption in blood, the liver, and kidney thus suggesting that their intake may protect from Pb toxicity.