Effects of doses and duration of iron supplement on iron deficiency in rats.

The effects of 3 doses and 2 durations of iron supplement on iron-deficient rats were investigated. Two groups of 15 rats were given, respectively, a low iron-containing diet (4-5mg Fe/kg diet) and a medium iron-containing diet (15mg Fe/kg diet) for 4 weeks. At that time the first group was anemic and the second group was moderately iron-deficient, as shown by their iron status parameters. The two groups were then each divided into 3 subgroups of 5 rats each that received the low iron-containing diet supplemented with 35, 150, or 250mg of iron in the ferrous sulfate form per kg diet. Changes in their iron status and mean body weight was followed after 8 and 14 days of supplementation. Results showed that, after 14 days of supplementation, a dose of 35ppm was not sufficient to normalize hematological parameters. However, doses of 150 and 250mg Fe/kg diet normalized all hematological parameters after 8 days of diet, and corrected the decrease in body weight gain.