Reduction in neonatal lead exposure by supplemental dietary iron during gestation and lactation in the rat.
Confirmed pregnant female albino rats were fed a purified diet containing either 30 or 150 ppm iron with or without lead (0 or 250 ppm) from day 0 of gestation through day 15 of lactation. A 19% reduction in dam weight gain during gestation and a 13% reduction in average pup weight in rats fed the low iron plus lead diet were markedly different compared to controls not exposed to lead and rats fed the lead-containing diet plus additional dietary iron. Milk lead concentration was reduced 34% in rats receiving additional dietary iron and lead compared to the low iron plus lead group which was reflected in almost identical reductions in pup erythrocyte and tibia lead concentrations, and a smaller reduction in pup liver lead concentration at day 15 of lactation. Determination of lead in pup liver obtained shortly after birth also suggests a possible effect of dietary iron on placental transfer of lead. Supplemental dietary iron reduced both maternal liver and blood lead concentration by 44 and 54%, respectively. Overall the results of this study show that neonatal lead exposure can be significantly reduced by providing supplemental dietary iron during gestation and lactation.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007501:Iron / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007774:Lactation; D007854:Lead / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008892:Milk / Q000032:analysis; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats
D011166:Porphyrins; D007854:Lead; D007501:Iron