title: The effect of ferrous-chelating hairtail peptides on iron deficiency and intestinal flora in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chelating agents, such as small peptides, can decrease free iron content and increase iron bioavailability. They may have promising therapeutic potential and may prevent the pro-oxidant effects of low molecular weight iron. Hairtail is a species of fish that is rich in easily digestible proteins. We extended this strategy for iron delivery by using an enzymatic hydrolysate of hairtail as the chelating agent and found that the ferrous-chelating hairtail peptides have anti-anaemic activity in Sprague-Dawley rats with anaemia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The anti-anaemic activity of ferrous-chelating hairtail peptides prepared by enzymatic hydrolysis of the hairtail and ferrous chelation was studied in rat models of iron deficiency anaemia. After the end of the 35 d experiment, we noted significant differences in haemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, haemoglobin distribution width, and ferritin concentrations between those animals supplemented with ferrous-chelating hairtail peptides and FeSO4 and healthy animals. There were no negative side effects on the animals' growth or behaviour. There was no obvious inflammation in the intestinal mucosa lamina propria and no unbalance of intestinal flora.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The novel ferrous-chelating hairtail peptides may be a suitable fortificant for improving iron-deficiency status. Our findings demonstrated that this multi-tracer technique has many applications in nutritional research. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Aquatic Product Processing and Storage, College of Food and Pharmacy, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, 316000, China.
authors.forename: Hui-Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Aquatic Product Processing and Storage, College of Food and Pharmacy, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, 316000, China.
authors.forename: Shang-Gui
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Department of Aquatic Product Processing and Storage, College of Food and Pharmacy, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, 316000, China.
authors.forename: Sai-Bo
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Aquatic Product Processing and Storage, College of Food and Pharmacy, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, 316000, China.
authors.forename: Ying-Jie
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Aquatic Product Processing and Storage, College of Food and Pharmacy, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, 316000, China.
authors.forename: Ru
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000818:Animals; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011492:Protein Hydrolysates / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D010455:Peptides; D011492:Protein Hydrolysates; C020748:ferrous sulfate
keywords: anti-anaemia activity; ferrous-chelating peptide; intestinal flora; iron deficiency