Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Fortified Biscuits as a Nutritional Supplement for Zinc Deficient Rats

Zinc deficiency is a global nutritional disorder affecting majority of healthy people rather than those suffering from chronic diseases, affects about one third of people around the world and thereby causing clinical manifestations. This work represents new modality to increase the intestinal absorptivity and bioavailability of zinc from the diet by replacing traditional bulk form by zinc nanoparticles to be used in preparations of zinc fortified biscuits as a nutritional supplement for zinc deficiency disease in rats. Zinc oxide nanoparticles of 25 ± 5 nm sizes were synthesized by co-precipitation approach and characterized by Transmission Electron Microscope and X-Ray Diffraction. Zinc deficient rats model was performed by nourishing on zinc deficient diet for five weeks to acquire zinc deficiency. Three levels nano zinc oxide Fortified Biscuits (13.5 ppm, 27 ppm and 54 ppm) were prepared to be compared with bulk form of zinc oxide. Results showed that, rapid enhancement of body growth rate, appetite and hair growth was recorded for nano zinc treated groups that might be attributed to the increased intestinal absorptivity and bioavailability of the nano scaled zinc oxide as a result of its ultra-small sizes compared to the regular bulky zinc oxide form. The toxicological evaluation of the applied nano zinc oxide concentrations didn’t cause any apparent toxicity and the lethal dose (LD50) cannot be established within the applied doses, where no mortality during the designed experiment period. Histopathological examination support the capability of the nano zinc oxide formulation to replace the traditional bulk forms of oral zinc supplements for rapid and efficient recovery with no significant histopathological abnormalities in Liver, Kidneys and Testis. The present work recommend dose of 13.5 ppm nano zinc fortified biscuits for managing mild zinc deficiency and the dose of 27 ppm for more sever conditions.