Effects of a clay supplement on body weight increment, bones, and teeth of rats.

" A supplement of 1% to 4% clay or 4% salt mixture caused an increase in body weight and prevented the pathologic changes. " " Findings indicated that the various clays differed significantly in growth-promoting activity (Table 4). The most active material tested was clay sample A (ION-MIN from CEM); whereas, clay sample J, kaolin, and hydrobiotite were virtually devoid of growth-promoting activity " " Findings indicate that the ingestion of clay at levels of 1% to 4% of the diet can profoundly affect the nutritional state of an animal. " " The addition of sodium to the basal ration in an amount equivalent to that in the 4% clay supplement promoted a significant increment in body weight, although less than that obtained with the 4% clay supplement. The sodium supplement, however, was without protective effect on the pathologic changes in the tibias and alveolar bone. "