Effects of a Clay Supplement on Body Weight Increment, Bones, and Teeth of Rats

¹ Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, School of Dentistry, and Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California

Rats fed a non-heat-processed, wheat flour-containing ration were retarded in growth and exhibited pathologic changes in the tibias and alveolar bone. A supplement of 1% to 4% clay or 4% salt mixture caused an increase in body weight and prevented the pathologic changes. A supplement of 0.3% CaCO₃, and 0.165% NaHCO₃ (which provided calcium and sodium in amounts equivalent to that in the 4% clay supplement) prevented the pathologic changes and promoted a weight increment only slightly less than that obtained with the 4% clay supplement.