Role of vitamin E in dietary iron overload in rats

ABSTRACT

The effect of chronic dietary iron overload on various organs of adult male and female rats was studied and compared with concomitant administration of vitamin E, 2 hours before iron. 60 mature rats of both sexes were used and divided into equal 5 groups. The first group received control diet.The second group received corn oil. Ferrous iron [100 mg/kg/day] was given orally to group III. Vitamin E [10 gm/kg/day] was given orally either separate [group IV] or 2 hours before iron supplementation. After 6 weeks serum and organs iron were estimated together with serum GOT, GPT, acid and alkaline phosphates and total lipids. Furthermore histopathological and histochemical study of iron storage were carried out in liver, spleen, lymph nodes, bone marrow, stomach and intestine. Iron overload induced marked rise of iron in serum with histochemical demonstration of its granules in liver, spleen, abdominal lymph nodes, bone marrow, stomach and intestine, associated by elevation in serum GOT, GPT, acid and alkaline phosphatases with reduction in total serum lipids.These pathological and biochemical changes were more evident in male rats than females. They were on the other hand, markedly improved by presupplementation with vitamin E. However, the resulting improvement was still significantly higher than the controls which issues our recommendation for further study using larger doses of vitamin E