The Impact of Varying Degrees of Iron Nutriture on Several Functional Consequences of Iron Deficiency in Rats

Abstract

The impact of varying severities of iron-deficiency anemia on fasting blood glucose, plasma triiodothyronine, heart norepinephrine concentrations and resting oxygen consumption were evaluated. Male weanling Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to one of six dietary groups (4, 6, 11, 16, 23 or 40 mg Fe/kg diet) for 6 wk. Hemoglobin, liver iron and transferrin saturation were significantly lower in the 4 and 6 mg Fe/kg diet groups relative to the other groups and were indicative of anemia, low tissue iron stores and impaired erythropoiesis. Fasting blood glucose and heart norepinephrine concentrations were significantly higher and lower, respectively, in the 4 and 6 mg Fe/kg diet groups than the three highest dietary Fe groups. Although fasting blood glucose was significantly inversely correlated (r = -0.89, P = 0.0001) with hemoglobin concentration; a significant quadratic relationship (R 2 = 0.70, P = 0.0001) existed between hemoglobin and heart norepinephrine concentration. Differences in plasma triiodothyronine concentrations and resting oxygen consumption were not significant among the groups. Thus, base on hemoglobin concentration as an index of the severity of iron deficiency, these findings demonstrate that certain physiological manifestations of iron deficiency occur at even moderate-to-mild degrees of anemia.

Dietary cellulose has no effect on the regeneration of hemoglobin in growing rats with iron deficiency anemia

“…Cellulose was added to the experimental diet in a quantity of 100 g/kg diet, while in the control group cellulose was replaced with corn starch (14). The density of insoluble fiber (cellulose), of about 25 g per 1000 calories of experimental diet, is greater than the quantity recommended for humans, which should ideally be between 8 and 10 g of fiber per 1000 calories (17).…”

“…After receiving this iron-free diet for 2 weeks, the animals -now 5 weeks old -were divided randomly into two groups of 12 rats each: cellulose group receiving a diet with cellulose (100 g/kg of diet), and control group receiving a control diet in which cellulose was replaced with corn starch, as suggested in the literature (14). The diets with and without cellulose were both prepared according to American Institute of Nutrition recommendations (AIN-93G) (13) and with the same amount of iron (35 mg of elemental iron per kg of diet in the form of iron sulfate), as shown in Table 1.…”

Development of Iron Deficiency Decreases Zinc Requirement of Rats

“…In our previous work, moderate to adequate levels of dietary Zn and Fe were used and no inhibitory effects were observed (11). Nevertheless, poor Fe status has been correlated with other biochemical functions in rats (11)(12)(13)(14). These studies have shown relationships between hemoglobin (Hb) and the activity of plasma alkaline phosphatase (ALK-P EC 3.1.3.1) (11), fasting blood glucose (12), thermogenesis (13) and skeletal muscle metabolism (14).…”

The Effect of Dietary Iron Levels on Changes in Iron Status and Zinc-Dependent Enzyme Activities in Rats Fed Two Levels of Dietary Zinc

“…The effect of dietary iron levels on changes in iron status has been widely investigated (1,2). Hema tological values and tissue iron stores in rats were de creased with low dietary iron intake (2).…”

“…Hema tological values and tissue iron stores in rats were de creased with low dietary iron intake (2). Zinc and iron are known to have similar physiochemical properties, thus the potential interaction between iron and zinc cannot be excluded.…”