Description

ABSTRACT

Bentonite is a widely used clay for so many purposes, especially as a body detoxifier. In this research, the investigation of the effect of bentonite on calcium and phosphorus levels in Wistar rat plasma was examined.  A total of 45 female and male adult Wistar albino rats were used. The rats were put into 5 groups of 9 rats each. Group 1, 2, 3 and 4 were given varying concentrations of bentonite (0.02g, 0.04g, 0.05g, 0.07g respectively) while group 5 was kept as control and was fed with basal diet. The experiment lasted for 28 days. The results showed that there was a slight increase in the calcium levels (P≤0.05). In addition, there was also a significant increase (3.60mmol/l) in phosphorus levels observed for 28 days duration of the experiment. This indicates that long-term exposure to increasing concentration of bentonite has a significant effect on the electrolyte levels in rat plasma and by extrapolation, the human body.  As a result, care should be taken while ingesting bentonite for other health benefits to avoid hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia. It is also recommended that blood test is undertaken at regular intervals for heavy users of the bentonite product.

Keywords: Bentonite, Calcium, Electrolyte, Phosphorus