Effects of food-derived oligopeptide iron chelates on liver injury and gut microbiota homeostasis in iron-deficiency anemia female rats: a pilot study.

Iron deficiency (ID) is the biggest cause of anemia. This pilot study aimed to investigate the effects of food-derived oligopeptide iron chelates on ameliorating liver injury and restoring gut microbiota homeostasis in iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) female rats. Female Sprague-Dawley rats at 21 days old were selected and randomly divided into a control group (N = 4) and an ID model group (N = 16). The ID model group was fed an iron-deficient diet containing 4 mg kg-1 iron for 28 days to generate the IDA rat model and then randomly subdivided into four groups (N = 4 for each group): ID group, ferrous sulfate group, marine fish oligopeptide iron chelate (MCOP-Fe) group, and whey protein oligopeptide iron chelate (WPP-Fe) group. Iron supplements were given to rats in the three intervention groups once per day via intragastric administration for three weeks. After iron supplementation, the hemoglobin levels in the three intervention groups were significantly improved, with the MCOP-Fe and WPP-Fe groups returning to normal. The ALT and AST levels in the ID group increased significantly, while levels in all intervention groups decreased to normal levels. Liver glutathione in the WPP-Fe group was increased, while the activity of superoxide dismutase also tended to be higher. In addition, 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that IDA resulted in changes to intestinal microbiota. After intervention, the WPP-Fe group showed increased alpha diversity of intestinal microbes. Therefore, MCOP-Fe and WPP-Fe may improve the iron status of IDA female rats as well as ameliorate liver damage, with WPP-Fe showing a greater potential in improving gut microbiota imbalance.

Food-derived bioactive oligopeptide iron complexes ameliorate iron deficiency anemia and offspring development in pregnant rats.

This study aimed to investigate anemia treatment and other potential effects of two food-derived bioactive oligopeptide iron complexes on pregnant rats with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and their offspring. Rats with IDA were established with a low iron diet and then mated. There were one control group and seven randomly assigned groups of pregnant rats with IDA: Control group [Control, 40 ppm ferrous sulfate (FeSO4)]; IDA model group (ID, 4 ppm FeSO4), three high-iron groups (H-FeSO4, 400 ppm FeSO4; MCOP-Fe, 400 ppm marine fish oligopeptide iron complex; WCOP-Fe, 400 ppm whey protein oligopeptide iron complex) and three low-iron groups (L-FeSO4, 40 ppm FeSO4; MOP-Fe, 40 ppm marine fish oligopeptide iron complex; WOP-Fe, 40 ppm whey protein oligopeptide iron complex). Rats in each group were fed the corresponding special diet during pregnancy until the day of delivery. After different doses of iron supplement, serum hemoglobin, iron, and ferritin levels in rats with IDA were significantly increased to normal levels (P < 0.05). Serum iron levels were significantly lower in two food-derived bioactive oligopeptide low-iron complex groups than in the low FeSO4 group (P<0.05). Liver malondialdehyde levels were significantly increased in the three high-iron groups compared with the other five groups (P < 0.05), and hemosiderin deposition was observed in liver tissue, indicating that the iron dose was overloaded and aggravated the peroxidative damage in pregnant rats. Liver inflammation was reduced in the three low-iron groups. Tumor necrosis factor α secretion was significantly decreased in all groups with supplemented oligopeptide (P < 0.05), with the concentration of tumor necrosis factor α declining to normal levels in the two whey protein oligopeptide iron complex groups. In the marine fish oligopeptide iron complex groups, body length, tail length, and weight of offspring were significantly increased (P < 0.05) and reached normal levels. Therefore, food-derived bioactive oligopeptide (derived from marine fish skin and milk) iron complexes may be an effective type of iron supplement for pregnancy to improve anemia, as well as reduce the side effects of iron overload, and improve the growth and nutritional status of offspring.

Immunoregulatory effects of ethyl-acetate fraction of extracts from Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et. Gilg on immune functions of ICR mice.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of ethyl-acetate fraction (EAF) of extracts from Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et. Gilg (TDG) on immune functions of ICR mice. METHODS: ICR mice were exposed to different doses of EAF for 15 or 30 days and then their immune functions were analyzed, including ConA-induced splenic lymphocyte transformation, SRBC-induced delayed type hypersensitivity response, serum hemolysin analysis, antibody-producing cells, peritoneal macrophage phagocytized chicken red blood cells, natural killer cell activity, and serum level of cytokines. RESULTS: EAF of extracts from TDG at different doses had various effects on immune functions of ICR mice. As compared with the controls, it increased the mouse spleen lymphocyte transformation induced by ConA, the left-hind voix pedis thickness and the number of plague forming cells (PFCs) at the dose of 1.82 mg/mL, 5.48 mg/mL, and 9.12 mg/mL, respectively; increased the ink clearance ability at the dose of 0.91 mg/mL, 1.82 mg/mL, 5.48 mg/mL, and 9.12 mg/mL, respectively; increased the phagocytosis index of mononuclear-macrophages and production of serum interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) at the dose of 5.48 mg/mL; and could promote the production of serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) at the dose of 9.12 mg/mL. CONCLUSION: EAF of extracts from TDG can regulate mouse immune functions in vivo.