Effects of dietary iron on gossypol accumulation in and elimination from porcine liver.

Abstract

PHYSIOLOGICAL abnormalities resulting from continuous ingestion of free gossypol by young pigs include anorexia, dyspnea, hydrothorax and edema of the lungs, hydroperitoneum, hepatic degeneration, hypertrophy and dilation of the heart (Smith, 1957) and changes in the electrocardiogram (Albrecht et al., 1968). Iron has a detoxifying effect when added to gossypol containing diets, (Withers and Brewster, 1913; Gallup, 1928; Robison, 1936; Fletcher, 1948; Eagle, 1949; Smith and Clawson, 1965) and prevents the development of the abnormalities described. The accumulation of gossypol in the organs of pigs has been shown to be directly correlated to the dietary level and to the number of days of ingestion, (Sharma, Smith and Clawson, 1966). Accumulation of gossypol in the livers of pigs was reduced by the inclusion of iron (ferrous sulfate monohydrate) at a 1:1 weight ration to free gossypol in the diets (Smith and Clawson, 1965). The present study was undertaken to determine: (1) the effect of high levels of dietary iron on the deposition of gossypol in the liver, (2) if a 3-week period is adequate to eliminate gossypol from the liver when the diet contains no gossypol and (3) the effect of dietary iron in a gossypol-free diet on elimination of gossypol from the liver.