title: Vitamin E is protective against iron toxicity and iron-induced hepatic vitamin E depletion in mice.
abstract: This study examined the effect of excess dietary iron on liver function, iron and vitamin E status and the protective activity of vitamin E. Consumption of excess dietary iron (3000, 5000, 8000 mg iron/kg/diet) compared with consumption of the control diet (120 mg iron/kg diet) by weanling male CD-1 mice for 7 wk resulted in accumulation of iron in liver, increased relative liver weights and a reduction in hepatic vitamin E stores. The concentration of vitamin E in the liver was negatively correlated with dietary iron concentration (r = 0.998). Weekly administration of vitamin E (20 mg/kg, subcutaneously) prevented iron-induced liver damage without altering hepatic iron stores. Pretreatment of adult male CD-1 mice with a single subcutaneous dose of vitamin E (20 mg/kg body wt) 24 h prior to a lethal dose of iron (60 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) resulted in 100% protection. A similar dose of vitamin E given 5, 30 or 60 min (intravenously) after iron intoxication enhanced survival to 90, 70 and 80%, respectively, compared with the untreated control group. Vitamin E treatment 30 min after iron intoxication reduced mortality by 75% compared with intravenous treatment with 10 mg/kg of deferoxamine (Desferal). Data in this study indicate that vitamin E may be a useful antidote for iron toxicoses and that iron-induced depletion of vitamin E may play a role in the pathogenesis of iron toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Physiological Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
authors.forename: F O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Omara
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Blakley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D003676:Deferoxamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004032:Diet; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009929:Organ Size; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D014810:Vitamin E; D007501:Iron; D003676:Deferoxamine