Pharmacological models of liver iron overload

Abstract

Iron deposits in tissues (hemosiderosis) accompany various diseases of the liver and pancreas. Overload of the liver with iron occurs due to (1) a diet with excess saturated fats, which provoke inflammation of the liver, (2) slowdown and stagnation of blood flow in the area of the portal vein (physical inactivity, obesity, alcoholism, etc), (3) uncontrolled and long-term use of iron supplements (primarily based on inorganic forms - sulfates, oxides, hydroxides of iron, etc.), (4) hereditary diseases (hemochromatosis). Patients with liver overload with iron require not only correction of diet and lifestyle (including physical activity), but also special therapy using effective and safe drugs. To study the effect of excess iron on the body and search for the most appropriate therapy for hemosiderosis, special models of liver overload with iron have been developed in pharmacology. The degree of iron overload and the rate of hemosiderosis formation in models can be slowed down by the addition of micronutrients with hepatoprotective properties (vitamins A, C) and accelerated by the addition of saturated fat and/or fructose to the diet.