Recovery from iron deficiency in rats by the intake of recombinant yeast producing human H-ferritin.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined whether iron accumulated in ferritin-producing recombinant microbes is bioavailable to rats with iron deficiency.


METHODS
Rats induced with iron deficiency were treated with iron preparations of ferrous ammonium sulfate, horse spleen ferritin, control yeast, and ferritin-producing recombinant yeast for 14 d. The bioavailability of iron was examined by measuring hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit value, and tissue iron stores. Differences between dietary groups were determined by one-way analysis of variance, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.


RESULTS
Based on hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit value, iron in ferrous ammonium sulfate, horse spleen ferritin, and ferritin-producing yeast were bioavailable to rats and cured iron deficiency. The efficacy of ferritin and ferritin-producing yeast was also confirmed in establishing tissue iron stores after induction of iron deficiency.


CONCLUSIONS
The iron sources of ferritin and ferritin-producing yeast were as effective in recovery from iron deficiency as the iron compounds of ferric citrate and ferrous ammonium sulfate. The results suggest that the iron stored in the ferritin of recombinant yeast is bioavailable, and that recombinant yeast may contribute widely as a source of iron to resolve the global problem of iron deficiency.
Chang
Yu-Jung
YJ
Faculty of Biological Sciences, Institute for Molecular Biology and Genetics, Chonbuk National University, Chonju, Republic of Korea.
Jo
Min-Young
MY
Hwang
Eun-Hee
EH
Park
Chung-Ung
CU
Kim
Kyung-Suk
KS
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005293:Ferritins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006400:Hematocrit / Q000379:methods; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008297:Male; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000178:diet therapy*; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015002:Yeast, Dried / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D005290:Ferric Compounds; D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D006454:Hemoglobins; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; C025314:ferric citrate; D005293:Ferritins; C038178:ammonium ferrous sulfate; D007501:Iron