The critical roles of iron during the journey from fetus to adolescent: Developmental aspects of iron homeostasis

Verga²,

et al. 2021

Nutrients

The complementary feeding (CF) period that takes place between 6 and 24 months of age is of key importance for nutritional and developmental reasons during the transition from exclusively feeding on milk to family meals. In 2021, a multidisciplinary panel of experts from four Italian scientific pediatric societies elaborated a consensus document on CF, focusing in particular on healthy term infants. The aim was to provide healthcare providers with useful guidelines for clinical practice. Complementary feeding is also the time window when iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are most prevalent. Thus, it is appropriate to address the problem of iron deficiency through nutritional interventions. Adequate iron intake during the first two years is critical since rapid growth in that period increases iron requirements per kilogram more than at any other developmental stage. Complementary foods should be introduced at around six months of age, taking into account infant iron status.

Section: Iron Status Before the Introduction Of Complementary Feedingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Complementary Feeding and Iron Status: “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” Infants

Verga²,

et al. 2021

Nutrients

“…Iron is a necessary trace element for all mammals and involved in many essential metabolic processes such as oxygen transport, mitochondrial respiration and enzymatic activities [ 1 ]. Therefore, the deficiency of iron will lead to the metabolic abnormality in all parts of human bodies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The most common manifestations of iron deficiency are fatigue, headache and paleness [ 2 ]. Iron deficiency (ID) impairs cardiac function in the elderly and neurocognitive development in infants [ 1 ]. Children suffering from severe iron deficiency are associated with cognitive dysplasia, delayed body development, and low productivity [ 3 , 4 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparative Effects between Oral Lactoferrin and Ferrous Sulfate Supplementation on Iron-Deficiency Anemia: A Comprehensive Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials

et al. 2022

Ferrous sulfate is a commonly used iron supplement for the correction of iron-deficiency anemia but with frequent gastrointestinal side effects. Milk-derived iron-binding glycoprotein lactoferrin possesses well gastrointestinal tolerance and fewer side effects caused by the intake of high-dose iron. However, the underlying mechanism of the iron-enhancing effect of lactoferrin remains unclear. In addition, the comparative efficacies between lactoferrin and ferrous sulfate are also remained to be determined. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on published intervention studies to investigate how lactoferrin modulate iron metabolism and evaluate the comparative effects between lactoferrin and ferrous sulfate supplementation on iron absorption, iron storage, erythropoiesis and inflammation. Lactoferrin supplementation had better effects on serum iron (WMD: 41.44 ug/dL; p < 0.00001), ferritin (WMD: 13.60 ng/mL; p = 0.003) and hemoglobin concentration (11.80 g/dL; p < 0.00001), but a reducing effect on fractional iron absorption (WMD: −2.08%; p = 0.02) and IL-6 levels (WMD: −45.59 pg/mL; p < 0.00001) compared with ferrous sulfate. In conclusion, this study supports lactoferrin as a superior supplement to ferrous sulfate regarding the improvement in serum iron parameters and hemoglobin levels. Considering the weak influence of lactoferrin on iron absorption, the anti-inflammation effect of lactoferrin may be the potential mechanism to explain its efficacy on iron status and erythropoiesis.

“…Iron plays an important role in promoting nervous system development and maintaining neuronal function (Hsieh et al, 2020 ; Donker et al, 2021 ). Brain iron is essential for neurotransmission, myelination of neurons, DNA synthesis, gene expression, and mitochondrial respiration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parkinson’s Disease Dementia: Synergistic Effects of Alpha-Synuclein, Tau, Beta-Amyloid, and Iron

Han

Fan

et al. 2021

Front. Aging Neurosci.

Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD) is a common complication of Parkinson’s disease that seriously affects patients’ health and quality of life. At present, the process and pathological mechanisms of PDD remain controversial, which hinders the development of treatments. An increasing number of clinical studies have shown that alpha-synuclein (α-syn), tau, beta-amyloid (Aβ), and iron are closely associated with PDD severity. Thus, we inferred the vicious cycle that causes oxidative stress (OS), due to the synergistic effects of α-syn, tau, Aβ, and, iron, and which plays a pivotal role in the mechanism underlying PDD. First, iron-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production can lead to neuronal protein accumulation (e.g., α-syn andAβ) and cytotoxicity. In addition, regulation of post-translational modification of α-syn by iron affects the aggregation or oligomer formation of α-syn. Iron promotes tau aggregation and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) formation. High levels of iron, α-syn, Aβ, tau, and NFTs can cause severe OS and neuroinflammation, which lead to cell death. Then, the increasing formation of α-syn, Aβ, and NFTs further increase iron levels, which promotes the spread of α-syn and Aβ in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Finally, iron-induced neurotoxicity promotes the activation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) related pathways in the synaptic terminals, which in turn play an important role in the pathological synergistic effects of α-syn, tau and Aβ. Thus, as the central factor regulating this vicious cycle, GSK3β is a potential target for the prevention and treatment of PDD; this is worthy of future study.