Table 2.

In vivo studies concerning the effect of the dietary use of zeolites during aflatoxicoses

Type of zeolite	Dietary inclusion rate (%)	Animal model	Observations
Clinoptilolite	1	Broilers	Growth depression caused by 2.5 ppm aflatoxin (afl) was alleviated by 15% [31]
Clinoptilolite	5	Geese	Prophylactic effect on growth rate and liver enzymatic activity [32]
Mordenite	0.5	Broilers	Reducing effect on toxicity of afl (3.5 mg kg−1 diet) as indicated by weight gain and changes in uric acid and albumin concentrations [33]
Clinoptilolite	0.5	Weaned piglets	Growth inhibitory effects and alterations of liver enzyme activity induced by 500 ppb afl were prevented [34]
Synthetic zeolite	0.5	Broilers	No significant effect on biochemical or haematological indexes when administered simultaneously with 2.5 mg afl kg−1 diet [52]
Clinoptilolite	0.5	Pregnant rats	No effect on maternal and developmental toxicities of afl (2 mg kg−1 body weight) [53]
Clinoptilolite	5	Quail chicks	Growth inhibitory effects of 2 mg kg−1 diet diminished by 70% [35]
Clinoptilolite	1.5	Broilers	Growth inhibitory effects of 100 ppb afl diminished over a study period of 42 days [36]
Clinoptilolite	1.5–2.5	Broilers	Adverse effects of 2.5 mg kg−1 diet on biochemical and haematological profiles were reduced [54]
Zeolite NaA	1	Broilers	Protection against growth inhibitory effects of 2.5 mg kg−1 diet [37]
Clinoptilolite	1.5–2.5	Broilers	Moderate to significant decrease of incidence and severity of certain target-organs degenerative changes induced by 2.5 mg afl kg−1 diet [55]
Clinoptilolite	2	Laying hens	Significant decrease in liver mycotoxin concentration and liver weight during aflatoxicosis caused by 2.5 mg kg−1 diet [56]