Effect of supplementing sodium 'bentonite or activated charcoal on mineral balances in growing male goats receiving diets with or without added aflatoxin B1

Abstract

Use ofnutritionally inert sorbents like sodium bentonite (NaB), activated charocoal (AC) offers a promising approach to tackle the aflatoxin problem. The adsorbents sequester the aflatoxins in the GI tract and reduce the absorption into the body system. Growing male kids (24) weighing 11.91±0.36 kg were divided on the basis ofbody weight into 6 treatment groups, i.e., T1 (green maize + concentrate mixture), T2 (green maize + concentrate mixture supplemented with sodium bentonite (NaB) @ 2 kg/I 00 kg), T3 (green maize + concentrate mixture supplemented with activated charcoal (AC) @ 2 kg per 100 kg), T4 (T1 + AFB1@300 ppb), Ts (T2 + APB1@300 ppb), T6 (T3 + AFB1@ 300 ppb). At the end of70 days of growth study, a metabolism trial of 6-day duration was conducted on 18 animals. Absorption and retention (% intake) of Ca was nonsignificantly lower in aflatoxin fed group (1'4) which was further reduced by the addition of AC. AFB1 and adsorbents used in this study did not affect the Pand Mgabsorption and retention in kids. AC supplementation in control (T3) as well as aflatoxin (T6) groups resulted in low absorption and retention (% intake) of Fe than control (T1)· Lower absorption and retention ofMn observed in aflatoxin (T4 ) and charcoal fed groups (T3 and T) in comparison to cO,ntrol (T1). P and Mg retention was not affected in statistical terms by AFB) or adsorbents. However, Ca, Fe, Zn and Mn retention reduced by either AFB1or AC or both. Hence, long term effect of using adsorbents on mineral utilization needs to be considered.