THE EFFECT OF EDIBLE CLAY (EKO) SUSPENSION

ABSTRACT

The eating of clay popularly known as Geophagia is a deliberate or conscious intake of earth or soil through the mouth into our body, especially by pregnant women. However, its potential effects on health, specifically on oxidative stress and the histology of the uterus are not well understood. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of edible clay suspension (eko) on the oxidative stress and histology of the uterus of Pregnant female Wistar rats. Forty-eight healthy female Wistar rats weighing 120g to 160g were divided into three groups (Group 1 to 3) and further split into two subgroups labeled day 10 and day 20, each containing eight rats (n = 8). Group 1 served as the control, receiving distilled water orally daily. Group 2 received a daily oral dose of 1000mg/kg edible clay suspension starting two weeks before pregnancy and continued post-pregnancy until gestation day 20 (GD), while Group 3 received the same dose from GD 0 till GD20. Five rats from each subgroup of Groups 1-3 were sacrificed on the 10th and 20th days of the study, blood and uterine tissue were collected for oxidative stress and histological evaluation. Results were presented as MEAN ± SEM in tables and figures. Values with P<0.05 were considered significant. Results revealed a significant increase in the oxidative stress biomarkers of group 3 animals compared with control at GD10. At GD20, there was a significant decrease in the oxidative stress biomarkers of of group 3 animals except for Catalase (CAT) where there was no significant change. At GD10, there was no change in the morphology of the uterus of group 2 and 3 animals. But at GD20, the uterus of animals in group 2 showed numerous dilated and congested blood vessels. The ingestion of edible clay (eko) may alter the oxidative stress levels and blood supply in the uterus of pregnant wistar rats. Findings from this study will have an impact on the consumption of edible clay, especially by pregnant women.