Aim: Study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary zinc deficiency and supplementation on the hematological parameters of male Wistar rats. Methods: Pre-pubertal rats (40-50 g) were divided into two groups with 6 sub-groups each viz. zinc control (ZC)[100µg/ gm zincdiet], pair fed (PF) [100µg/ gm zincdiet], zinc deficient (ZD) [<1µg/ gm zinc diet], zinc supplementation control (ZCS) [100µg/ gm zinc control diet], zinc supplementation pair-fed (PFS)and zinc supplementation deficient (ZDS) [100µg/ gm zinc control diet].Experiments were set for 2- and 4-weeks followed by 4 weeks of zinc supplementation. Results: Duration dependent significant (P<0.05) decrease in red blood corpuscle count, haemoglobin content, packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and platelet count in both ZD and PF groups was observed with respect to control groups (2- & 4-weeks). The total leucocyte count (TLC) and clotting time showed a significant (P<0.05) increase in ZD groups as compared to control and pairfed groups (2- and 4-weeks). After 4-weeks of zinc supplementation Hb, MCV, MCH and MCHC, RBC as well as platelet count demonstrated a non-significant decline while decrease observed in ESR and PCV values were found to be significant (2ZDS group).Although 4ZDS groups showed significant decline (P<0.05) in Hb, PCV, MCH, MCV, MCHC, RBC and platelet count, the decline was less as compared to 4ZD group. TLC and clotting time after zinc supplementation revealed nonsignificant (2ZDS) and significant (4ZDS) increase in ZD groups when comparisons were carried out between the groups. Conclusion: The findings revealed that zinc deficiency leads to marked deterioration of haematological parameters. Zinc supplementation appears to have beneficial effects by restoring the altered hematological indices.
