EFFECTS OF DIETARY IRON AND FOLATE SUPPLEMENTATION ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL-CHANGES PRODUCED IN WEANLING RATS BY SODIUM SACCHARIN EXPOSURE

Exposure of rats to high dietary levels of sodium saccharin (NaSac) st arted in utero produce physiological effects at 30 days post-birth tha t are similar to those found in pups of iron-deficient dams. These sim ilarities suggest that some of the changes due to NaSac are secondary to iron deficiency. The present experiment investigated whether the ef fects of 7.5% dietary NaSac in the newborn rat could be prevented by d ietary iron and/or folate supplementation. The NaSac-related effects p revented by iron supplementation included anaemia, decreased serum iro n and folate, increased serum cholesterol and triglyceride and increas ed serum vitamin E. Folate supplementation prevented NaSac-induced dep ression of serum folate and increase in serum vitamin E. Although blad der hyperplasia was increased by dietary iron and/or folate supplement ation, the majority of the urinary chemistry changes associated with N aSac treatment were not affected. The results show that some physiolog ical changes associated with NaSac treatment in the newborn rat may oc cur as a consequence of iron deficiency rather than a direct effect of NaSac treatment. These changes may be independent of the urinary and bladder effects, which are not reversed by iron supplementation.