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Effects of Different Doses and Duration of Iron Supplementation on Curing Iron Deficiency Anemia: an Experimental Study

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Abstract

Many controversies persist with respect to the dosage and therapeutic duration concerning iron deficiency anemia (IDA) treatment. To identify the most suitable cure, this study evaluated the effect of iron supplementation with different doses and for different time periods in rats with iron deficiency anemia. The rats were randomly divided into five groups [normal control (NC), low- iron diet control (LC), normal doses of iron group (NI), middle dose of iron group (MI), and high dose of iron group (HI)]. Each group was subdivided into two subgroups (2 and 4 weeks). The rats were maintained on low-iron diets and treated with oral iron dextran at different dosages. Finally, we investigated red blood cell parameters, iron absorption and metabolism, oxidative stress, and the antioxidant capacity. Our study indicated that through the administration of normal dose iron by gavage to IDA rats, the levels of the red blood cell parameters can be restored in only 2 weeks. In the HI group, iron absorption and transferrin receptor expressions were markedly reduced after 2 weeks. However, the iron content, ferritin and hepcidin expressions were notably increased, and the changes were more apparent after 4 weeks. With increasing doses of iron supplementation and durations of treatment, the liver malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the LC, MI, and HI groups was markedly increased, whereas the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were obviously reduced. This study demonstrated that the dose of iron treatment for IDA should be controlled in a safe range, and a reasonable duration is also critical for IDA therapeutics.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by The National Natural Science Fund (No. 81273053).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ship Hygiene, Second Military Medical University, NO.800 Xiangyin Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200433, China

    Juan Ma, Xiaosha Wen, Fengfeng Mo, Xiaoli Wang, Zhilei Shen & Min Li

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  1. Juan Ma
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  2. Xiaosha Wen
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  3. Fengfeng Mo
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  4. Xiaoli Wang
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  5. Zhilei Shen
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  6. Min Li
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Min Li.

Additional information

Juan Ma and Xiaosha Wen contributed equally to this work.

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Ma, J., Wen, X., Mo, F. et al. Effects of Different Doses and Duration of Iron Supplementation on Curing Iron Deficiency Anemia: an Experimental Study. Biol Trace Elem Res 162, 242–251 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-014-0115-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-014-0115-4

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