Supplementation of milk with iron bound to lactoferrin using weanling mice: L. Effects on hematology and tissue iron.
Lactoferrin is an iron-binding protein present in high concentrations in human milk. The efficacy of supplementing iron bound to lactoferrin to iron-deficient and iron-sufficient young mice was evaluated in comparison with supplementation of iron as iron chloride. Mice fed a nonsupplemented milk diet (approximately 1 mg Fe/L) for 4 weeks had a microcytic, hypochromic anemia and low tissue iron concentrations. Iron supplementation of the diet with lactoferrin-iron, or iron chloride at a level of 5 mg Fe/L prevented the anemia and resulted in tissue iron levels similar to levels found for mice fed a stock commercial diet. There was no significant difference in any of the parameters analyzed between the groups of mice receiving the two iron supplements following a diet deficient in iron. Apolactoferrin when supplemented to the diet had no negative effect on the iron status of the mice. These results show that lactoferrin may be a useful vehicle for supplementation of iron.
D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D002417:Cattle; D002712:Chlorides; D005260:Female; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006400:Hematocrit; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007782:Lactoglobulins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051379:Mice; D008892:Milk; D014886:Weaning
D002712:Chlorides; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D007782:Lactoglobulins; D007501:Iron; D007781:Lactoferrin; C024555:ferric chloride