In vivo efficacy of ferrihydrite as an enterosorbent for arsenic: short-term evaluation in rodents

J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2013;76(3):167-75. doi: 10.1080/15287394.2013.752322.

Abstract

The use of dietary adsorbents to reduce arsenic (As) exposure is innovative. Ferrihydrite successfully sorbs arsenite and asenate over a wide range of pH conditions and the As-ferrihydrite complexes are stable in gastrointestinal (GIT) models. Our objectives were to (1) compare structural characteristics (using x-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared [FTIR] spectroscopy) and As binding affinities of industrially produced ferrihydrite (IDF) and lab-synthesized ferrihydrite and (2) evaluate the efficacy of the material displaying the best sorption capability as an As enterosorbent in a short-term mammalian model. Lab-synthesized ferrihydrite displayed superior binding affinity for both arsenate and arsenite in vitro, which led to its use in the in vivo portion of the study. Young Sprague-Dawley male rats were fed either a control diet or a 0.5% w/w ferrihydrite feed. After 1 wk of acclimation, rats were given 0.5 ml of 500 mg/L arsenate or arsenite via gavage with or without ferrihydrite. Rats were then transferred to metabolism cages, and urine collected after 24 and 48 h was analyzed for total As. Rats were evaluated daily for signs of morbidity and mortality for up to 1 wk. Ferrihydrite reduced mean urinary As levels by 74.9% and 43.6% after 24 h and 49.1% and 39.5% after 48 h for arsenite- and arsenate-treated groups, respectively. Importantly, treatment groups receiving ferrihydrite displayed no signs of As-related toxicity. All As reductions were statistically significant except for arsenate treatments at 24 h. Data suggest that, as an enterosorbent, ferrihydrite reduces bioavailability after As exposures.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Animals
  • Antidotes / chemistry*
  • Antidotes / pharmacology
  • Arsenates / chemistry*
  • Arsenates / metabolism
  • Arsenates / toxicity
  • Arsenic Poisoning / drug therapy*
  • Arsenic Poisoning / metabolism
  • Arsenites / chemistry*
  • Arsenites / metabolism
  • Arsenites / toxicity
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Ferric Compounds / chemistry*
  • Ferric Compounds / pharmacology
  • Longevity / drug effects
  • Male
  • Protein Binding
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Sodium Compounds / chemistry*
  • Sodium Compounds / metabolism
  • Sodium Compounds / toxicity
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Antidotes
  • Arsenates
  • Arsenites
  • Ferric Compounds
  • Sodium Compounds
  • sodium arsenite
  • sodium arsenate
  • ferric oxyhydroxide