Low-dose oral ferrous fumarate aggravated intestinal inflammation in rats with DSS-induced colitis.
BACKGROUND
Oral ferrous iron therapy may reinforce intestinal inflammation. One possible mechanism is by catalyzing the production of reactive oxygen species. We studied the effects of low-dose oral ferrous fumarate on intestinal inflammation and plasma redox status in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in rats.


METHODS
Forty male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups: no intervention, sham gavage (distilled water), ferrous fumarate, DSS, and ferrous fumarate + DSS. Ferrous fumarate was dissolved in distilled water (0.60 mg Fe/kg per day) and administered by gavage on days 1 to 14. All rats were fed a standard diet. Colitis was induced by 5% DSS in drinking water on days 8 to 14. Rats were killed on day 16. Histologic colitis scores, fecal granulocyte marker protein, plasma malondialdehyde, plasma antioxidant vitamins, and plasma aminothiols were measured.


RESULTS
DSS significantly increased histologic colitis scores (P < 0.001) and fecal granulocyte marker protein (P < 0.01). Ferrous fumarate further increased histologic colitis scores (P < 0.01) in DSS-induced colitis. DSS + ferrous fumarate decreased plasma vitamin A compared with controls (P < 0.01). Otherwise, no changes were seen in plasma malondialdehyde, plasma antioxidant vitamins, or plasma aminothiols.


CONCLUSIONS
Low-dose oral ferrous iron enhanced intestinal inflammation in DSS-induced colitis in rats.
Erichsen
Kari
K
Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. kari.erichsen@helse-bergen.no
Milde
Anne Marita
AM
Arslan
Gülen
G
Helgeland
Lars
L
Gudbrandsen
Oddrun Anita
OA
Ulvik
Rune J
RJ
Berge
Rolf K
RK
Hausken
Trygve
T
Berstad
Arnold
A
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D011336:Probability; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D016264:Dextran Sulfate; C031621:ferrous fumarate