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Impaired Ketogenesis in Iron-Deficient Rat Pups¹

Department of Foods and Nutrition and Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801

Livers of Fe-deficient rat pups contain significantly less carnitine and more triacylglycerol (TG) than livers of control pups. Carnitine affects ketogenesis (KG), which is a vital adaptation in the neonate. To determine if KG is impaired by low carnitine in Fe-deficient pup liver, ketone body synthesis was measured in liver mitochondria from 15-d-old pups. Litters from Fe-deficient (- Fe) and Fe-adequate (+ Fe) dams were orally supplemented with water (W) as a control, 18 mM ferrous sulfate, or 10 mM L-carnitine from d 8 through d 15 of lactation. The amount of ketone bodies (ß-hydroxybutyrate + acetoacetate) synthesized was 68% less (P < 0.05) in - FeW pups than in + FeW pups. Iron or carnitine supplementation increased KG in - Fe pups to + Fe KG levels, but carnitine did not affect KG in + Fe pups. Liver TG in + Fe pups was not altered by supplementation, but liver TG was lowered in - Fe pups by carnitine and iron 21% and 64%, respectively, compared to - FeW pups. The data support the hypothesis that in the Fe-deficient suckling rat, low carnitine levels may contribute to impaired ketogenesis and increased lipids in liver.

KEY WORDS: • carnitine • ketogenesis • suckling rat • iron deficiency • liver triacylglycerol

¹ Supported in part by a grant from the National Livestock and Meat Board and the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station (60-0337).

² Sandra J. Bartholmey was a Wardall Fellow in the Department of Foods and Nutrition during portions of this work.

³ Address reprint requests to Adria R. Sherman, Ph.D., Department of Foods and Nutrition, 274 Bevier Hall, 905 South Goodwin, Urbana, IL 61801.

Manuscript received 27 February 1986. Revision accepted 16 June 1986.