Abstract

The effect of prolonged administration of high doses of copper nicotinate on biochemical and cellular constituents of blood and on copper level in serum, liver and muscle was studied in rats. Oral administration of copper nicotinate at doses of 0.8 or 4.0 mg/kg body weight (b. wt.) for 6 weeks did not affect GOT, creatinine or cholesterol in serum of rats. When given at 4.0 mg/kg b. wt. for 8 weeks copper nicotinate significantly (P <0.05) increased GOT, GPT, urea, creatinine and cholesterol in serum of rats. Minimal hematological changes were observed particularly when copper nicotinate was given at the high dose for 8 weeks. After administration of copper nicotinate at a dose of 0.8 and 4.0 mg/kg b. wt. copper level increased in the serum.  The concentration  of copper in liver and muscle tissue initially increased through the first 2 weeks, but its level decreased within the next 2 weeks and remained almost at this level up to the 10^th week. The present data indicate the safety of copper nicotinate complex when given at a high dose for 6-8 weeks. This was also confirmed by the high LD₅₀ in mice (1104.17 and 128.33 mg/kg b. wt. after oral and intraperitoneal route respectively.

Key words: Copper nicotinate, copper complex, copper high doses, copper concentration, serum biochemical changes, hematological changes.