Ameliorative Function of a Probiotic Bacterium, Lactobacillus rhamnosus MR1 on Acute Iron Toxicity in Rats

Abstract

Overuse of iron supplements can lead to an acute inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. This study investigates the ameliorative and prophylactic effects of a probiotic bacterium, L. rhamnosus MR1, on acute iron poisoning in rats. In this study, a probiotic strain was isolated from yogurt and characterized for its probiotic properties, including antibiotic-resistant, bile salt (BS) and acid resistance, iron tolerance, cell hydrophobicity of the bacterial cells. The anti-inflammatory effect of strain MR1 was studied on the iron exposed-Caco-2 cell line. In vivo experiments were conducted for the assessment of survival in rats overdosed with treatment. These findings indicate high bacterial tolerance in acidic conditions, high concentrations of bile salts, and iron. The anti-inflammatory effects of strain MR1 were confirmed by decreasing the concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 and increasing anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-4 in treated groups. Prophylactic and acute effects of strain MR1 in rats caused a significant reduction in intestinal iron poisoning by 50 % during 6 h. Prophylactic regimen by L. rhamnosus MR1 increased the viability of about 33% in acutely poisoned rats. Since no report is found in the current literature about the effect of probiotic supplements on iron's acute toxicity, these interesting results can provide a useful background for further studies on dietary supplements.