Effects of a Tripeptide Iron on Iron-Deficiency Anemia in Rats

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the effects of a tripeptide iron (REE-Fe) on iron-deficiency anemia rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven groups: a normal control group, an iron-deficiency control group, and iron-deficiency groups treated with ferrous sulfate (FeSO4), ferrous glycinate (Fe-Gly), or REE-Fe at low-, medium-, or high-dose groups. The rats in the iron-deficiency groups were fed on an iron-deficient diet to establish iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) model. After the model established, different iron supplements were given to the rats once a day by intragastric administration for 21 days. The results showed that REE-Fe had effective restorative action returning body weight, organ coefficients, and hematological parameters in IDA rats to normal level. In addition, comparing with FeSO4 or Fe-Gly, high-dose REE-Fe was more effective on improving the levels of renal coefficient, total iron-binding capacity, and transferrin. Furthermore, the liver hepcidin messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in the high-dose group was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that in the FeSO4 or Fe-Gly group and showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) with the normal control group. The findings suggest that REE-Fe is an effective source of iron supplement for IDA rats and might be exploited as a new iron fortifier.

Digital gene expression profiling analysis of duodenum transcriptomes in SD rats administered ferrous sulfate or ferrous glycine chelate by gavage

“…Although many studies have shown that ferrous glycinate exhibits better bioavailability than ferrous sulfate152324, the mechanism of its high bioavailability is still unclear. In the present study, we found that gavage of SD rats with FeSO 4 or Fe-Gly did not affect their growth performance over a relatively short time period (two weeks), but that the SI level was significantly increased in the Fe-Gly-treated rats group.…”

“…In the present study, we found that gavage of SD rats with FeSO 4 or Fe-Gly did not affect their growth performance over a relatively short time period (two weeks), but that the SI level was significantly increased in the Fe-Gly-treated rats group. SI is the amount of circulating iron that is bound to transferrin23, and it reflects iron absorption in the intestinal tract. These results are consistent with those of our previous study showing that Fe-Gly is absorbed better than FeSO 4 15.…”

Protein Hydrolysates as Promoters of Non-Haem Iron Absorption

“…For example, aspartame ( N - l -α-aspartyl- l -phenylalanine methyl ester) can interact with ferrous iron, and aspartame-ferrous iron complexes have been synthesized [10]. Fe-carbamyl glycine [20] and Arg-Glu-Glu-iron [18] have also been synthesized and studied as iron supplements.…”

“…An iron ion can also be cargo. The tri-peptide Arg-Glu-Glu [18] was designed using the rules governing cell-penetrating peptides; the Arg residue improves the penetrability of the peptide and has been proven to promote iron absorption in the form of a chelate. Peptides produced by microorganisms have also been reported to contain iron or to have the ability to chelate iron.…”

“…For example, Fe-Gly has a special transit system that is different from the absorption system of FeSO 4 [5,82,83]. The tri-peptide iron complex Arg-Glu-Glu-Fe, an effective iron supplement for IDA rats, was designed as a cell-penetrating peptide [18]. Some CPP-iron complexes seem to be absorbed via endocytosis in vivo [84].…”