Gamma Aminobutyric Acid Increases Absorption of Glycine-Bound Iron in Mice with Iron Deficiency Anemia.

Iron deficiency is a leading cause of anemia. Amino acids are known to promote the absorption of both soluble and insoluble iron. The bioavailability of organic iron is higher than that of inorganic iron. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the iron absorption of glycine-bound iron (an organic iron) and a combination of glycine-bound iron and gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) in mice with iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Mice were fed an iron-deficient diet for 3 weeks, followed by oral administration of GABA, inorganic iron, glycine-bound iron, or GABA plus glycine-bound iron for 5 weeks. Ferritin storage in the spleen was measure by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Iron deposition in the liver and spleen tissues was analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometry. Expression levels of iron absorption-related genes were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Iron absorption was enhanced in the glycine-bound iron-treated group compared with the inorganic iron-treated group. Hemoglobin, serum Fe, ferritin, and liver iron levels did not increase in mice treated with GABA alone. However, mice administered GABA in combination with glycine-bound iron showed higher iron absorption than those administered organic iron alone. Our results indicate that glycine-bound iron in combination with GABA might exert a synergistic effect on iron absorption and bioavailability, suggesting that the addition of GABA to existing iron supplements might increase their effectiveness for treating IDA.

Probiotic Potential of Enterococcus faecium Isolated from Chicken Cecum with Immunomodulating Activity and Promoting Longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Probiotics, including Enterococcus faecium, confer a health benefit on the host. An Enterococcus strain was isolated from healthy chicken cecum, identified as E. faecium by 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis, and designated as E. faecium L11. To evaluate the potential of E. faecium L11 as a probiotic, the gastrointestinal tolerance, immunomodulatory activity, and lifespan extension properties of the strain were assayed. E. faecium L11 showed >66% and >62% survival in artificial gastric juice (0.3% pepsin, pH 2.5) and simulated small intestinal juice (0.5% bile salt and 0.1% pancreatin), respectively. Heat-killed E. faecium L11 significantly (p < 0.05) increased immune cell proliferation compared with controls, and stimulated the production of cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) by activated macrophages obtained from ICR mice. In addition, E. faecium L11 showed a protective effect against Salmonella Typhimurium infection in Caenorhabditis elegans. In addition, feeding E. faecium L11 significantly (p < 0.05) extended the lifespan of C. elegans compared with the control. Furthermore, genes related to aging and host defense were upregulated in E. faecium L11-fed worms. In conclusion, E. faecium L11, which prolongs the lifespan of C. elegans, may be a potent probiotic supplement for livestock.