Hepatic iron overload may contribute to hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia in copper-deficient rats.
The present study was conducted in order to determine whether hepatic iron retention in rats fed a copper-deficient diet containing fructose is associated with hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia, and whether a reduction of iron intake will prevent elevation of blood triglycerides and cholesterol. Rats were fed from weaning either a copper-deficient (0.6 microgram Cu/g) or copper-adequate (6.0 micrograms Cu/g) diet for 4 weeks. Half the rats consumed either an adequate level of iron (50 micrograms Fe/g) or a low level (17 micrograms Fe/g). Reduction of iron intake reduced blood levels of both triglycerides and cholesterol in rats fed a copper-deficient diet containing fructose. In addition, hepatic lipid peroxidation was also decreased. The combination of high iron, low copper, and fructose may be responsible for increased levels of risk-factor metabolites associated with heart disease.
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Metabolism and Nutrient Interactions Laboratory, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, MD 20705, USA.
Lewis
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D000818:Animals; D003300:Copper / Q000172:deficiency*; D003677:Deficiency Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000378:metabolism*; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000378:metabolism*; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron