Iron Accumulation in Liver of Minko rats with 50% Dietary Restriction

The effect of 50% dietary restriction on the mineral content of the liver in spontaneously obese rat with abnormal lipid metabolism selected among Wistar rat (Minko rat) was studied. Twenty-four male Minko rats and eighteen female rats (8 weeks old) were separated each into two groups. One group was fed 50% dietary restriction and other group was fed normal diet. These dietary regiments were performed for 13 weeks. The concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium, sulfur, manganese, copper and molybdenum in liver of Minko rats were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES: Perkin Elmer Co. Ltd) after wet digestion by nitric acid. The significant changes seen in 50% dietary restricted rats to compared with normal group rats were as follows: In male rats, phosphorus, zinc, sulfur, copper and molybdenum levels in liver decreased, and potassium, iron and manganese levels in liver increased. In female rats, calcium, zinc, copper and molybdenum levels in liver decreased, and potassium, iron, and manganese levels in liver increased. Plasma iron level was higher, and total iron binding capacity was lower in male 50% restriction rats. These results suggest that 50% dietary restriction induced iron accumulation and the mineral imbalances in liver, and abnormal metabolism losing homeostatic regulation of plasma iron.