Figure 1.

The apparent absorption of zinc (Abs_Zn) and its daily faecal (FE_Zn) and urinary excretion (UE_Zn) in particular experimental groups. The rats received cadmium (Cd) in their diet at the concentration of 0, 1, and 5 mg/kg and/or 0.1% extract from the berries of Aronia melanocarpa (AE; “+”, received; “-”, not received). Data represent mean ± SE for eight rats (except for seven animals in the AE, Cd₁, and Cd₅ groups after 24 months). Statistically significant differences (ANOVA, Duncan’s multiple range test): * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001 vs. control group; ^† p < 0.05, ^†† p < 0.01, ^††† p < 0.001 vs. respective group receiving Cd alone; ^‡ p < 0.05, ^‡‡ p < 0.01, ^‡‡‡ p < 0.001 vs. respective group receiving the 1 mg Cd/kg diet (alone or with AE) are marked. Numerical values in bars indicate percentage changes compared to the control group (↓, decrease; ↑, increase) or the respective group receiving Cd alone (↘, decrease; ↗, increase).