Effects of Copper and Zinc Supplementation on Haematological, Renal and Liver Function in Healthy Wistar Rats

Copper and zinc are essential elements that aid in various physiological and biochemical functions. Nevertheless, exposure to these heavy metals could also be detrimental to some vital organs such as the liver and kidney of the body. Increased usage of agrochemicals in crop production has the potential of increasing bioaccumulation of trace elements in both humans and animals as they feed on these plants. The present study, therefore, investigated the effects of copper and Zinc supplementation on haematological, renal, and liver functions in healthy wistar rats.

A total of twenty-five wistar rats of five weeks old (weighing 185g-250g) were recruited for the study. Animals were grouped into five namely Control, Zinc low, Zinc high, Copper low and Copper high as groups 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 respectively and administered feeds containing low and high doses of Copper and Zinc two weeks post-acclimatization. Laboratory investigations on haematological, renal, and liver markers were assessed after three weeks of feeding.

Both copper and Zinc doses significantly (P <0.05) elevated the counts for Red Blood Cell (RBC), Hemoglobin (Hb), Hematocrit (HCT), White Blood Cells (WBCs), and Platelets with no significant effect on their weight gain compared to the control group of rats. Zinc doses elevated the levels of Alanine transaminase (ALT), with a low dosage having a significant effect on AST and ALP. The effect of copper and Zinc doses significantly (P <0.05) reduced creatinine levels, with no significant effect on urea concentrations.

The elevation of ALT and Platelets as a result of Copper and Zinc exposure suggests their deteriorating effect on the liver and other organs of the body. Long-term exposure to these trace elements can lead to a lot of pathologies.