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The effect of iron and zinc supplementation and its discontinuation on liver antioxidant status in rats fed deficient diets

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim was to investigate the effect of iron or combined iron/zinc supplementation on rat liver antioxidant status.

Methods

The 6-week male Wistar rats were examined in 3 stages: (1) 4-week adaptation to the diets (C—control AIN-93M diet, D—iron deficient and R—with 50 % reduction in all vitamin and mineral amounts); (2) 4-week supplementation with the same regimen enriched with tenfold more iron or iron/zinc; (3) 2-week post-supplementation period (the same diets as in the stage I).

Results

Combined iron/zinc supplementation similarly to iron supplementation alone significantly (p values ≤ 0.05) increased the iron content in the liver in D and R rats after stages II and III. Moreover, iron/zinc supplementation compared to iron supplementation alone significantly decreased the liver concentration of 8-isoprostane (after stage II in D and after stage III in R rats), protein carbonyl groups (only after stage III in R rats) and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (after stage II in R and after stage III in D and R rats). In rats fed R-type of diets after stage II hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity, but not glutathione peroxidation activity and total antioxidant capacity, was lower in iron and iron/zinc supplemented than in non-supplemented rats, whereas after stage III in iron/zinc supplemented SOD was lower and CAT activity was higher in comparison with non-supplemented and iron supplemented rats.

Conclusions

The simultaneous iron/zinc supplementation can protect liver against peroxidative damage induced by high doses of iron during and after the intervention in rats fed iron-deficient diet and diet with reduced amounts of vitamins and minerals. The post-intervention observation is relevant because the effect may be delayed and visible only after this period.

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Acknowledgments

The studies were supported by a grant from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MNiSZW), Poland (No. N N312 329735).

Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Author contribution

JK: study concept and design, oversaw the animal and diet manipulations; JK and DM: conducted the animal experiments; JK, DM and BP: assisted with tissue collection; JK, AR and ES: perform analytical determinations of study parameters; JK: performed the statistical analysis and drafted the manuscript; JK: analysis and interpretation of data; JK and BP: critical revision of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Nutrition, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159C Str., 02-776, Warsaw, Poland

    Joanna Kaluza, Dawid Madej & Barbara Pietruszka

  2. Department of Plant Genetics, Breeding and Biotechnology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, SGGW, Warsaw, Poland

    Anna Rusaczonek & Ewa Siedlecka

Authors
  1. Joanna Kaluza
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  2. Dawid Madej
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  3. Anna Rusaczonek
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  4. Ewa Siedlecka
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  5. Barbara Pietruszka
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Correspondence to Joanna Kaluza.

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Kaluza, J., Madej, D., Rusaczonek, A. et al. The effect of iron and zinc supplementation and its discontinuation on liver antioxidant status in rats fed deficient diets. Eur J Nutr 53, 1083–1092 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-013-0610-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-013-0610-y

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