DOSE-DEPENDENT EFFECTS OF ZINC SUPPLEMENTATION DURING CHELATION OF LEAD IN RATS

Dose-dependent effects of zinc supplementation in order to enhance the efficacy of calcium disodium EDTA in lead intoxicated rats was invest igated in rats. The results suggest simultaneous supplementation of zi nc at a lower concentration i.e. 10 mg/kg (orally, once during chelati on treatment), 25 mg/kg zinc (Flora & Tandon 1990) potentiates the mob ilization of lead from blood and soft tissues. However, at a higher do se level (50 mg/kg once orally) it has deleterious and much reduced ab ility to deplete tissue lead contents and restore altered lead sensiti ve biochemical variables.