The study aimed to determine the effects of zinc-reinforced clinoptilolite supplementation to the diet on selected hematological parameters, serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations, and enzyme histochemical characteristics in fattening lambs. For this purpose, 40 healthy male lambs were randomly allocated into five equal groups: control (C; n = 8), natural clinoptilolite (NC; n = 8), zinc (ZN; n = 8), natural clinoptilolite plus zinc (NCZN; n = 8), and zinc-reinforced clinoptilolite (ZNRC; n = 8). All animals were housed in individual pens, and the supplementation period continued for 42 days. Blood samples were collected before the trial (day 0) and at the end of the trial (day 42) to evaluate hematological parameters, serum IgG concentrations, and enzyme activity. Lymphocyte and monocyte percentages increased only in the ZN group at day 42 compared with day 0 (p 0.05). In conclusion, zinc-containing combinations (NCZN and ZNRC) appeared to exert more pronounced effects on immune-related parameters, particularly lymphocyte percentages and serum IgG concentrations. These findings suggest that alternative nutritional strategies may be developed by utilizing the ion-exchange capacity of clinoptilolite.
KISADERE et al. (Wed,) studied this question.