Abstract
Supplementation with iron and folic acid is widely recommended in women of childbearing age and during pregnancy; however, the effect of such supplementation on mineral status is not well-known. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of oral iron and folic acid, administered together and separately, on copper, zinc, calcium, and magnesium concentrations in the tissues of rats with a deficiency of both these micronutrients. The experiment was performed on 8-week-old female Wistar rats. In the first stage of the experiment, the animals were randomly assigned to a control group of rats fed the standard diet (AIN-93 M), and to a study group of rats fed a diet deficient in iron and folate. The study group was then randomly divided to four groups: group D was fed a deficit diet, group FE was fed a deficit diet with iron gluconate, the FOL group was fed a deficit diet with folate acid, and the FEFOL group was fed a deficit diet with iron gluconate and folate acid. After 2, 10, and 21 days of the intervention, ten animals from each group were killed. Mineral concentrations were assayed in the liver, spleen, pancreas, heart, and kidneys using atomic absorption spectrometry. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica 12.0 with the ANOVA test (p < 0.05). It was found that separate supplementation with iron and folic acid significantly decreased copper concentrations in tissues. The deficit in iron and folic acid decreased, and their simultaneous supplementation increased calcium content in the organs. Separate and simultaneous supplementation decreased magnesium status in deficient rats. In conclusion, iron and folic acid, supplemented separately or simultaneously, affect the copper, calcium, and magnesium level in tissues.
Highlights
Iron and folic acid deficiency is common among women of childbearing age, and in pregnant women
The iron status results have been presented in our previous paper [15], where we found that folic acid supplementation more significantly decreased iron concentrations in the pancreas and spleen than in the deficient group after 10 and 21 days of supplementation
We found that separate and simultaneous supplementation of iron and folate affects tissue copper, zinc, calcium, and magnesium concentration in rats after short, moderate, and long-term intervention
Summary
Iron and folic acid deficiency is common among women of childbearing age, and in pregnant women. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that more than 30% of women of reproductive age worldwide are anemic, and that at least half of these have iron deficiency anemia [1]. The interactions between calcium, zinc, copper, and iron have been widely documented, and occur mainly in the stages of absorption, transport, and metabolism of these minerals [9]. Hephaestin is a ceruloplasmin homolog and plays a role in the uptake of iron from the diet. Excess zinc in the diet is known to induce copper deficiency, leading to a reduction in iron bioavailability, eventually resulting in anemia. Several transporters involved in iron, copper, and zinc metabolism may be associated with the absorption of other elements [14]
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