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Effects of Dietary Protein and Amino Acids on Iron Utilization by Iron-Depleted Rats^1,2,3,

Department of Food and Nutrition, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011

Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of dietary protein concentration and added amino acids on iron utilization for hematocrit and hemoglobin repletion in iron-depleted male Wistar rats. The rats were made anemic by feeding an iron-deficient purified diet; iron utilization was assessed as gains in hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, and total hemoglobin during a repletion period. The efficiencies of use for these gains were calculated. Ten and 20% casein diets were tested with two levels and sources of iron: 20 mg/kg as FeSO₄·7H₂O and 40 mg/kg as FeSO₄·7H₂O or FeCO₃. Histidine (0.3%) and lysine (0.8%) were added to 10% casein diets supplemented with iron at 20 and 40 mg/kg as FeSO₄. The 20% casein diet significantly decreased regeneration of hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration with 20 but not with 40 mg/kg added iron as FeSO₄·7H₂O. Total hemoglobin regeneration was increased by 20% casein with 40 but not with 20 mg/kg iron in ad libitum-fed but not in pair-fed rats. The efficiency of 20 mg/kg added iron utilization for hematocrit and hemoglobin regeneration was greater with the lower dietary casein level. The efficiency of iron use for total hemoglobin regeneration was not affected by dietary casein. The higher dietary casein level strongly decreased hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration and total hemoglobin regeneration with 40 mg/kg added iron as FeCO₃. The efficiency of iron utilization from FeCO₃ was decreased by the higher casein level for regeneration of hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration but not total hemoglobin. L-Histidine (0.3%) and L-lysine (0.8%) added to the 10% casein diet had no effect on iron utilization.

KEY WORDS: • iron • protein • casein • amino acids • utilization

¹ This work is Journal Paper No. 8784 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station. Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, Project No. 1750.

² Part of this work was presented orally at the American Home Economics Association annual meeting, Dallas, Texas, June 21–27, 1975.

³ Reprint requests should be sent to J. Hathcock.

⁴ Present address: Department of Home Economics, Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, Ark.

Manuscript received 9 March 1977.