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Effect of oral aluminum and aluminum citrate on blood level and short-term tissue distribution of aluminum in the rat

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Abstract

Aluminum (Al) absorption seems to be very low, but many factors can enhance it in animals and humans. In the present study, we investigated the acute effect of Na citrate on Al absorption by monitoring Al levels in blood and several tissues. For this purpose, 18 Wistar male rats were divided into 3 groups: control, Al, and Al + Na citrate. After a 14-h fasting period, animals were dosed orally with deionized water, or 2 mmol Al chloride, or 2 mmol Al chloride plus 2 mmol Na citrate. Blood samples were taken before and 1, 2, 4, and 6 h after the gavage. Al concentrations in blood, liver, tibia, kidney, and intestinal wall were determined by ICP-OES. In the Al and Al + citrate groups, Al blood concentrations peaked at 1 h and 2 h with higher levels in the Al + citrate group. Al gavage resulted in an increase in Al level in intestinal wall, but not in the other investigated tissues. Simultaneous gavage of citrate with Al significantly increased its tissue levels in tibia, kidney, and in intestinal wall. Our data show clearly that Al as chloride can be absorbed, but not well retained by the organism tissues. Furthermore, the model used in the present study is appropriate for acute studies to investigate the effect of various compounds on Al absorption in the rat.

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Author notes

  1. Zeyuan Deng

    Present address: Food Nutrition Laboratory, Food Science Department, Nanchang University, 330047, Nanchang, China

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre de Recherche en Nutrition Humaine d’Auvergne, Unité des Maladies Métaboliques et Micronutriments, Centre d’INRA Clermont-Ferrand/Theix, 63122, Saint Genès Champanelle, France

    Charles Coudray, Andrzej Mazur & Yves Rayssiguier

  2. Laboratoire de Contrôle des Eaux, Institut Louise Blanquet, Faculté Médecine et Pharmacie, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Laurent Gouzoux & Denise Pépin

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  1. Zeyuan Deng
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  2. Charles Coudray
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  3. Laurent Gouzoux
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  4. Andrzej Mazur
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Deng, Z., Coudray, C., Gouzoux, L. et al. Effect of oral aluminum and aluminum citrate on blood level and short-term tissue distribution of aluminum in the rat. Biol Trace Elem Res 63, 139–147 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02778873

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02778873

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