[Effect of iron deficiency on vitamin A metabolism in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of iron deficiency on vitamin A (VA) metabolism in rats.


METHODS
Forty-four male SD rats were divided randomly into four groups according to their body weights and every group included 11 rats: control group (I group), entire iron deficient and normal VA group (II group), slight iron deficient and normal VA group (III group), slight iron and VA deficient (IV group). After being raised for 10 weeks, the rats were sacrificed and the serum VA, retinol-binding protein (RBP), hemoglobin, serum iron, serum iron saturation, VA in the liver, retinyl ester in the liver were determined.


RESULTS
Iron deficiency decreased serum VA and VA in the liver significantly, and increased molar ratio of hepatic retinyl esters to retinol significantly. VA deficiency decreased the level of RBP mRNA expression in the liver significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
Iron deficiency could affect VA nutritional status by influencing absorption, storage and transportation of VA.
Shi
Rui
R
Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, College of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China. shirui82822@163.com
Wang
Chaoxu
C
Lan
Lan
L
Han
Wei
W
Xu
Xiaolei
X
Wang
Kebo
K
Liu
Baosheng
B
D000818:Animals; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000378:metabolism*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; D014801:Vitamin A