Bentonites are readily available clays used in the livestock industry as feed additives to reduce aflatoxin (AF) exposure; their potential interaction with nutrients is the main concern limiting their use, however. The objective of the present study was to determine the safety of a dietary sodium-bentonite (Na-bentonite) supplement as a potential AF adsorbent, using juvenile Sprague Dawley (SD) rats as a research model. Animals were fed either a control diet or a diet containing Na-bentonite at 0.25% and 2% (w/w) inclusion rate. Growth, serum, and blood biochemical parameters, including selected serum vitamins (A and E) and elements such as calcium (Ca), potassium (K), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) were measured. The mineral characteristics and the aflatoxin B₁ sorption capacity of Na-bentonite were also determined. By the end of the study, males gained more weight than females in control and Na-bentonite groups (p ≤ 0.0001); the interaction between treatment and sex was not significant (p = 0.6780), however. Some significant differences between the control group and bentonite treatments were observed in serum biochemistry and vitamin and minerals measurements; however, parameters fell within reference clinical values reported for SD rats and no evidence of dose-dependency was found. Serum Na and Na/K ratios were increased, while K levels were decreased in males and females from Na-bentonite groups. Serum Zn levels were decreased only in males from Na-bentonite treatments. Overall, results showed that inclusion of Na-bentonite at 0.25% and 2% did not cause any observable toxicity in a 3-month rodent study.

膨润土是一种容易获得的粘土，用于畜牧业作为饲料添加剂，以减少黄曲霉毒素 (AF) 的暴露；然而，它们与营养素的潜在相互作用是限制它们使用的主要问题。本研究的目的是使用幼年 Sprague Dawley (SD) 大鼠作为研究模型，确定膳食钠膨润土 (Na-膨润土) 补充剂作为潜在 AF 吸附剂的安全性。以0.25% 和2% (w/w) 的掺入率给动物喂食对照饮食或含有钠-膨润土的饮食。测量了生长、血清和血液生化参数，包括选定的血清维生素（A 和 E）和钙 (Ca)、钾 (K)、铁 (Fe) 和锌 (Zn) 等元素。矿物特性和黄曲霉毒素B ₁还测定了钠膨润土的吸附能力。到研究结束时，在对照组和钠膨润土组中，男性的体重增加比女性多（p ≤ 0.0001）；然而，治疗与性别之间的相互作用并不显着（p = 0.6780）。在血清生化和维生素和矿物质测量中观察到对照组和膨润土处理之间的一些显着差异；然而，参数落在 SD 大鼠报告的参考临床值范围内，并且没有发现剂量依赖性的证据。钠膨润土组的男性和女性血清钠和钠/钾比率增加，而钾水平降低。血清锌水平仅在钠膨润土处理的男性中降低。总体而言，结果表明钠膨润土的含量为 0。