title: Influence of fish on the bioavailability of plant iron in the anemic rat.
abstract: The effect of fish protein and fish oil on the utilization of endogenous iron in wheat bran, spinach and soy protein isolate was investigated by using the anemic rat as an animal model. Marine products were substituted for casein and corn oil in the diets of these animals. Hemoglobin regeneration was one criteria used to measure iron uptake. Relative biological values (RBV) were computed from a regression equation obtained from control animals receiving graded levels of FeSO4 X 7H2O. The RBV of iron from plant sources provided in diets containing casein-corn oil versus fish-fish oil were: wheat bran, 123 vs. 111%; spinach, 53 vs. 49%; and soybean isolate, 84 vs. 67%; RBV FeSO4 = 100%. These changes were not significant. The decreases in iron absorption from diets containing marine products was attributed to the fish oil. Absorption of exogenous iron (59Fe) was measured in the same animals after the 14-day repletion period. Assimilation of the 59Fe was highly correlated (r2 = 0.958) with hemoglobin level at time of dosing. Diet composition did not appear to have the same effect on the percentage of 59Fe retained after 110 hours by the rat as compared to levels of hemoglobin regeneration (i.e., RBV). A "meat factor" effect was not shown by substituting fish for casein the diets containing plant iron sources fed anemic rats.
mesh_terms: D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000032:analysis; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005399:Fishes; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009753:Nutritive Value; D014674:Plant Proteins, Dietary / Q000032:analysis; D010945:Plants, Edible / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D014675:Vegetables / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005395:Fish Oils; D006454:Hemoglobins; D014674:Plant Proteins, Dietary; D007501:Iron