Effect of soybean hull iron on growth, iron bioavailability, and behavioral function in anemic rats induced by iron deficiency during gestation or lactation

Bioavailability of iron in soybean hull was investigated by hemoglobin rege neration efficiency (HRE), body iron status and maze test in rat pups with iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) induced by iron deficiency of dams during gest ation or lactation (GID or LID group, respectively) and normal pups (N grou p). The soybean hull repletion diet (SH) and purified control diet (PC) as the experimental diets contained the same amount of iron (35mg/kg diet) and the pups in each group were divided into two subgroups by diet sources. Th e normal (N-SH), gestation iron deficiency (GID-SH), lactation iron deficie ncy (LID-SH) groups fed SH were significantly higher in food intake and gro wth than each of their respective control groups (N-PC, GID-PC, LID-PC) fed PC. After the feeding, hemoglobin concentrations approached normal value i n all groups, but I-IRE were significantly higher with SH irrespective of i ron deficient period. IDA rats in either lactation or gestation, when compa red to normal rats, resulted in lower serum iron and transferrin saturation . Iron concentrations in both liver and spleen were significantly lower in LID-PC group than LID-SH and N- PC groups. The maze test showed a learning defect in either LID group, but GID groups were not significantly different in comparison with N groups. These results suggest that IDA in lactation m ay influence more serious growth and development than those in gestation, s oybean hull iron has the higher bioavailability in normal and IDA-induced r ats, and thus soybean hull is effective as source of iron supplement. (C) 1 999 Elsevier Science inc.