BIOCHEMICAL INTERACTIONS AMONG SILICON, IRON AND ASCORBIC-ACID IN THERAT

A 2 x 2 x 2 factorial experiment was conducted using two dietary level s each (mg/kg of diet) of silicon, 0 and 500; iron, 35 and 187; and as corbic acid, 0 and 900, to identify biochemical interactions occurring among these nutrients. Supplemental silicon, in conjunction with the higher dietary-iron level, prevented the plasma-iron decreasing effect observed for the higher level of iron in the absence of silicon. Ln t he absence of ascorbic acid, silicon also increased iron concentration in the liver. Lower growth of the silicon and iron-supplemented rats is believed to be a response to a subsequent iron-imposed aberration o f copper or zinc metabolism. This is supported by decreased intestinal . metallothionein, increased weights (g/100 g body weight) of liver, h eart, and testes, and decreased packed-cell volume and hemoglobin conc entration. The lower plasma-iron level associated with the higher leve l of dietary iron appeared to be an expression of the iron-imposed red uction of Liver copper stores. Ascorbic acid decreased plasma-iron con centration and prevented the silicon-related increase in liver iron.