Acta Pharm. 52 (2002) 19-28
This study aimed at testing the effects of applying two calcium supplementary doses on the adverse effects of lead toxicity in Sprague Dawely rat weanlings. Lead application resulted in retarded growth and pathologically altered levels of serum total protein, total lipid, triglycerides, cholesterol, urea and creatinine, whereas uric acid was almost unchanged. Results indicated liver dysfunction, renal impairment and increased protein breakdown. Both supplementary calcium doses could bring to normal most of the serological parameters. However, higher calcium concentration implied the potential risk of provoking nephrocalcinosis as a possible cause of kidney dysfunction, given that the increase in creatinine levels was steady and incurable. Therefore, lead treatment with nutritional calcium should be handled with caution; calcium doses should not vastly exceed a concentration of 0.9% diet and should be administered over a limited period of time.
Keywords: lead poisoning, supplementary calcium, growth, blood serum analysis, kidney function