Effect of dietary iron on metabolism in diet induced obese rats

Objective To study the effect of mild iron deficiency and mild iron supplementation on the metabolism of diet induced obese rats.Methods Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups according to hemoglobin and body weight:A group was fed with basic diet(50?mg/kg iron),B,C and D group were fed with high fat and different iron level diet(containing 25?mg/kg,50?mg/kg and 75?mg/kg iron respectively).The iron was ferric citrate.After 11 weeks,rats were sacrificed,blood glucose,serum lipids and hormones were meaured,and iron indexes were also measured.Results Serum iron and liver iron level of B and C group significantly decreased compared with A group(P0.05).Compared wtih B and C group,serum iron and liver iron level of D group significantly increased(P0.05),near to A group.Compared wtih A group,body fat content and triglycerid of B group significantly increased(P0.05),all hormone indexes decreased except leptin,and glucagon decreased statistically(P0.05).Body fat content,blood glucose and triglyceride of D group significantly decreased compared with B group(P0.05),triglyceride significantly decreased compared with C group;etraiodothyronine and growth hormone significantly increased compared with B group(P0.05).Conclusion Mild iron deficiency may aggravate the obesity and metabolism disturbance of obese rats;mild iron supplementation may improve the obesity and metabolism disturbance of obese rats.