title: Iron supplementation in young iron-deficient females causes gastrointestinal redox imbalance: protective effect of a fermented nutraceutical.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess whether the concomitant supplementation of certified fermented papaya preparation (FPP, ORI, Gifu, Japan) together with iron supplementation could beneficially affect lipid peroxidation either systemically and at a intraluminal gut level in women with low iron stores. Treatment compliance and iron absorption was assessed as well. Fifty-two non-pregnant, fertile, non-smokers, healthy women with iron deficiency were recruited. The women were given iron supplements (100 mg Fe/d as ferrous sulfate) to be taken daily for 12 weeks (group A). Group B patients were also supplemented with 6g/day of a FPP. A detailed life style questionnaire was administered to all subjects. Iron, ferritin, transferrin receptors (Tf R) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in plasma were measured. The RBCs lysate was used for the estimation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). The total and free iron concentration as well as analysis of oxidative stress in the feces was measured. FPP-supplemented subjects showed a significantly lower degree of gastrointestinal discomfort (p less than 0.05) and abolished the iron supplementation-induced increase of MDA (p less than 0.001) and the depletion of SOD and GPx (p less than 0.01). Moreover, the nutraceutical co-administration brought about a significant reduction of gut oxidative damage and lower fecal content of either total and free iron (p less than 0.05 vs group A). Overall, group B showed a better TfR/ferritin ratio response (p less than 0.05 vs group A). While iron supplementation maintains its clinical relevance considering the prevalence of iron deficiency among females, a careful clinical evaluation and a protective nutraceutical co-administration, as our data suggest with FPP, should be considered.
authors.affiliation: ReGenera Research Group for Aging Intervention, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bertuccelli
authors.affiliation: ReGenera Research Group for Aging Intervention, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marotta
authors.affiliation: CMP-Medical Center and Laboratories, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zerbinati
authors.affiliation: Preventive and Functional Medicine Center Brunswick, GA, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cabeca
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: NIDDK, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.affiliation: ReGenera Research Group for Aging Intervention, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lorenzetti
authors.affiliation: CMP-Medical Center and Laboratories, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.affiliation: Dept of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology Unit, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milazzo
authors.affiliation: Dept of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology Unit, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Calabrese
authors.affiliation: ReGenera Research Group for Aging Intervention, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tomella
authors.affiliation: Dept of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology Unit, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Catanzaro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D007501:Iron