RESUMO
Thirty two male weanling Sprague Dawley rats were made iron-deficient or normal-iron by feeding AIN-76 Specifications without or with 0.8mg Fe (divided twice daily). After 12 days both groups of rats were subdivided into two groups, each one received 8mg Fe at intervals of 3 days or daily respectively for 18 days, 3.7?104Bq of 69Fe were added to the first supplemented dose. Measurements included every segment intestinal mucosal Fe and the remaining Fe in washes in intestine, and thier cpm of 58Fe at sacrifice. 59Fe utilization were counted. The results showed that Fe content of intestinal mucosa and washes in daily Fe supplemented rats were from 8 to 20 times that of iron normal control group and 59Fe utilization was doubled. Intestinal mucosal Fe levels were close to that of iron-normal rats. Remaining Fc content in washes was 1/5 of daily Fe supplemented rats. So intermittent Fe supplementation was more efficient and the dose was small and side effect was less than daily supplementation and diminished intestinal Fe loading.