en علوم آزمایشگاهی Laboratory Sciences تحقيقي Original Paper <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:200%"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:200%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">Background and objectives</span></span></span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:200%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">: Considering the increasing use of </span></span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:200%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">nanochitin</span></span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:200%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""> for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions, examining the biological effects of this substance on the level of essential metals for humans and animals is crucial. Therefore, this study investigated impact of oral administration of </span></span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:200%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">nanochitin</span></span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:200%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""> on serum levels of iron (Fe) and calcium (Ca) in Wistar rats.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:200%"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:200%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">Methods</span></span></span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:200%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">: Twenty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four treatment groups and one control group. Two groups were fed with nanochitin at doses of 1.6 and 2.6 &mu;g/g for 6 weeks, and the other two groups received the mentioned doses for 10 weeks. Serum concentrations of Fe and Ca were measured using atomic absorption spectroscopy.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:200%"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:200%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">Results</span></span></span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:200%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">: <a name="_Hlk84337263">Oral administration of 2.6 &mu;g/g nanochitin for 10 weeks caused a significant decrease in serum Ca and Fe concentrations (<i>p</i><0.05). </a>Oral administration of 1.6 and 2.6 &mu;g/g nanochitin for 6 weeks caused a non-significant reduction in serum Fe and Ca concentrations (<i>p</i>>0.05). However, nanochitin consumption for 10 weeks resulted in a significant decrease in serum Fe concentration but not Ca.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:200%"><span calibri="" style="font-family:"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:200%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">Conclusion</span></span></span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:200%"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times="">: The limited reduction of serum Fe and Ca concentrations after oral consumption of nanochitin at a low dose and for a limited duration indicates that the controlled use of nanochitin could be safe for animals. However, complementary studies are needed to determine the exact effects of nanochitin on the animals&rsquo; bodies. On the other hand, it is recommended to use Fe and Ca supplements after consuming high doses of nanochitin for longer periods. </span></span></span></span></span></span> Iron,Calcium,Rats, Wistar, 26 30 http://mlj.goums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1134-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Negin Valizadeh KeshmeshTapeh amandadad38@gmail.com 100319475328460026717 100319475328460026717 No (MSc) Department of environmental Sciences, Faculty of fisheries and environmental Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources,Gorgan, Iran Somayeh Namroodi namroodi@gau.ac.ir 100319475328460026718 100319475328460026718 Yes (PhD) Department of environmental Sciences, Faculty of fisheries and environmental Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources,Gorgan, Iran Shohreh Taziki Dr_sh_taziki@yahoo.com 100319475328460026719 100319475328460026719 No ischemic disorders research center ٫ golestan university of medical sciences ,gorgan ,iran