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Iron status in rats fed on diets containing marginal amounts of vitamin A

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2007

K. W. Sijtsma ,
G. J. Van Den Berg ,
A. G. Lemmens ,
C. E. West  and
A. C. Beynen
K. W. Sijtsma
Affiliation:
Department of Laboratory Animal Science, State University, PO Box 80.166, 3508 TD, Utrecht Department of Human Nutrition, Agricultural University, PO Box 8129, 6700 EV, Wageningen
G. J. Van Den Berg
Affiliation:
Interfaculty Reactor Institute, University of Technology, Mekelweg 15, 2629 JB, Delft, The Netherlands
A. G. Lemmens
Affiliation:
Department of Laboratory Animal Science, State University, PO Box 80.166, 3508 TD, Utrecht
C. E. West
Affiliation:
Department of Human Nutrition, Agricultural University, PO Box 8129, 6700 EV, Wageningen
A. C. Beynen
Affiliation:
Department of Laboratory Animal Science, State University, PO Box 80.166, 3508 TD, Utrecht Department of Human Nutrition, Agricultural University, PO Box 8129, 6700 EV, Wageningen
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Abstract

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Severe vitamin A deficiency in rats is known to cause anaemia associated with growth retardation and impaired water retention. However, study of the effect of marginal vitamin A intake is of more interest because such intake may mirror the situation in humans in many developing countries. Therefore, in two experiments, the effect of marginal vitamin A deficiency on Fe status was investigated in male rats. After 28 d of feeding either low- or high-vitamin A diets (0 or 120 v. 1200 retinol equivalents/kg feed), body weight and feed intake were not influenced by the level of vitamin A in the diet. Liver weight was lowered by vitamin A deficiency. Water intake was not influenced in rats fed on a low-vitamin A diet. Plasma retinol concentrations were decreased in rats fed on diets low in vitamin A. Marginal vitamin A deficiency produced slightly lower blood haemoglobin concentrations; it did not systematically affect packed cell volume. The concentration of Fe in liver was significantly higher when diets low in vitamin A were fed, but hepatic Fe mass was not affected. Significantly lower Fe levels were observed in femurs of rats with vitamin A deficiency. The effects on liver and femur Fe concentrations were seen with diets adequate in Fe but not with diets deficient in Fe. The efficiency of apparent Fe absorption was significantly increased by low intakes of vitamin A, provided that the dietary Fe concentration was adequate. It is speculated that depressed uptake of Fe by bone marrow is the primary feature of altered Fe status in rats with marginal vitamin A deficiency.

Keywords

Vitamin AIronAnaemiaRat
Type
Interactions between Vitamin A Intake and Iron Status
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 70 , Issue 3 , November 1993 , pp. 777 - 785
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1993

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