Iron supplementation does not aggravate impaired glucose tolerance and sugar overload-induced genotoxicity in rats

High sugar intake is a major risk factor for metabolic disorders. Genotoxicity is an important factor in diabetes onset, and iron (Fe) may be an aggravating element. However, this relationship is still poorly established. Thus, this study evaluated whether Fe supplementation could aggravate obesity, impaired glucose tolerance, and sugar overload-induced genotoxicity in rats. A total of 24 rats were treated with different diets: standard diet (SD, n = 8), invert sugar overload (320 g/L, HSD, n = 8), or Fe plus invert sugar overload (2.56 mg/L of Fe 2+ , Fe-HSD, n = 8) for four months. After treatment, the Fe-HSD group showed no excessive weight gain or impaired glucose tolerance. DNA damage in blood, as assessed by comet assay, gradually increased in HSD during treatment ( p