Geophagy is the consumption of earth materials across several cultures in many continents. For various reasons, consumption of kaolin is common among pregnant women in Nigeria. This earth material is known to contain heavy metals. This study was carried out to determine the effect of kaolin consumption on some heavy metal levels in pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in a Teaching Hospital in the south east Nigeria. A total of eighty pregnant women recruited for this study were grouped as follows; Group 1, (30 geophagic pregnant women within the first trimester). Group 2 (30 geophagic pregnant women within the second trimester) and Group 3 (20 non-geophagic pregnant women that served as control) Subjects in Groups 1 and 2 were subdivided into three based on the quantity of kaolin consumed per week, Group A (100 g/week), group B (150 g/week) and group C (200 g/week). Preliminary analysis of the heavy metal contents of kaolin was carried out. After two weeks of kaolin consumption, the serum levels of lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury of the subjects were determined. The mean concentrations of lead (0.347 ± 0.12), arsenic (0.354 ± 0.15), cadmium (0.209 ± 0.11) and mercury (0.029 ± 0.02) in the kaolin exceeded the maximum permissible concentrations in food. The concentration of lead increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the first and second trimester pregnant women on 150 and 200 g of kaolin per week. There was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the concentration of arsenic and cadmium in the second trimester women who consumed 200 g of kaolin per week. These results indicate that unregulated consumption of kaolin in pregnancy increases the serum level of the heavy metals and may be a risk factor for lead toxicity with its attendant complications in the infants.

Background: Geophagy is the consumption of earth materials which occurs across several cultures. For several reasons, pregnant women in many parts of West Africa including Nigeria frequently consume kaolin. This study was carried out to determine the influence of kaolin consumption on serum electrolytes, glucose and amylase levels of pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in a Teaching Hospital in the south east Nigeria. Methods: A total of eighty pregnant women recruited for this study were grouped as follows; Group 1, (30 geophagic pregnant women in the first trimester), Group 2 (30 geophagic pregnant women in the second trimester) and Group 3 (20 non-geophagic pregnant women that served as control). Subjects in Groups 1 and 2 were subdivided into three based on the quantity of kaolin consumed per week: group A (100 g/week), group B (150 g/week) and group C (200 g/week). Preliminary analysis of the calcium content of kaolin was carried out. Serum levels of potassium, sodium, chloride, bicarbonate, glucose and amylase of the subjects were determined. Results: Calcium level in kaolin was below the recommended daily intake in food. The concentrations of potassium in geophagic pregnant women who consumed 150 g and 200 g of kaolin per week were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in both 1 st and 2 nd trimester groups., There was a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in sodium concentration (132.2 ± 2.0) of the 2 nd trimester pregnant women that consumed 200 g of kaolin per week. The concentrations of chloride and bicarbonate were not significantly (p > 0.05) affected in all the groups. Serum amylase concentration decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in the 1 st and 2 nd trimester pregnant women on 150 g and 200 g of kaolin per week, while the plasma glucose concentration was significantly (p < 0.05) elevated in the same groups. Conclusion: This study concludes that kaolin consumption in pregnant women may predispose to gestational diabetes, electrolytes imbalance and reduced intes-

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