The effects of exercise and dietary iron on iron status in 13 months old female rats

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of exercise and dietary iron on various components of iron metabolism in 13 month old female rats. Fifty-six 13 month old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of five groups of treatment: baseline (BL); 40ppm iron, exercise (40 E); 9ppm iron, exercise (9 E); 40ppm iron, non- exercise (40 NE); 9ppm iron, non-exercise (9 NE). The exercise protocol involved swimming the exercise groups for a period of six weeks, starting with 10 minutes/day until the rats were swimming for 1 hour/day, 5 days/ week, at the sixth week. Results indicated no significant differences in food intake and body weight among the groups. Hematocrit values were similar among groups and did not show significant effects of diet, activity or interaction. Hemoglobin values demonstrated significant effects of activity with values being elevated in the exercise groups (p ≤0.05). No significant effects of diet and interaction on hemoglobin concentrations were observed. Serum iron levels were significantly affected by dietary intake of iron, with levels being lower in the groups consuming the moderately-deficient diet (p≤0.05). Serum iron levels were not significantly affected by activity or interaction of diet and activity. TIBC levels did not demonstrate significant effects of diet, activity or interaction (p<0.05). Tissue weights of liver, spleen, heart, soleus and gastrocnemius muscles were similar among groups. Iron concentrations in the liver and spleen showed significant effects of diet, activity and interaction (p≤0.05). Iron levels were lower in the groups consuming moderately-deficient intakes of dietary iron and were also lower in the exercised animals. Concentrations were significantly lower in the 9 E group than in the 40 E group. Iron concentrations in the gastrocnemius muscle were significantly affected by diet, activity and interaction of diet and activity, and were significantly lower in the exercised animals as compared to their sedentary counterparts. Soleus iron concentrations were similar among groups. The results suggest that there is an iron cost associated with exercise as evidenced by elevated hemoglobin levels and depleted iron stores in the liver, spleen and gastrocnemius muscle. It appears that the body undergoes. physiological adaptions in response to the stress of exercise and therefore prevents anemia by maintaining the iron stores at compromised levels.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Human Nutrition and Foods

Department dc:contributor.department

Human Nutrition and Foods

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1988

Author dc:creator

• Prasad, Mona Kumar

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-06122010-020509

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/43274