Transepithelial transport of glucose and mRNA of glucose transporters in the small intestine of rats with iron-deficiency anemia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the transepithelial transport of sodium, glucose, potassium, and water and the mRNA level of the sodium-glucose cotransporter (SGLT1) and the facilitated sugar transporter (GLUT2) in the small intestine of iron-deficient rats. METHODS: After 6 wk of receiving diets with low or normal iron content, rats (Wistar-EPM) were subjected to two experiments: 1) evaluation of the transepithelial transport of sodium, glucose, potassium, and water by an "in vivo" experimental model of intestinal perfusion and 2) determination of relative SGLT1 and GLUT2 mRNA levels in the proximal, intermediate, and distal portions of the small intestine by the northern blotting technique. RESULTS: Hemoglobin and hepatic iron levels were statistically lower in the anemic rats. The mean transepithelial transports of sodium (-33.0 µEq · min(-1) · cm(-1), glucose (426.0 µM · min(-1) · cm(-1), and water (0.4 µL · min(-1) · cm(-1) in the small intestine of the anemic rats were significantly lower than in the control group (349.1 µEq · min(-1) · cm(-1), 842.6 µM · min(-1) · cm(-1), and 4.3 µl · min(-1) · cm(-1), respectively, P < 0.05). The transepithelial transport of potassium was similar for both groups. The relative SGLT1 mRNA levels of the anemic rats in the intermediate (1.796 ± 0.659 AU) and distal (1.901 ± 0.766 AU) segments were significantly higher than the values for the control rats (intermediate 1.262 ± 0.450 AU, distal 1.244 ± 0.407 AU). No significant difference was observed for the relative SLGT1 mRNA levels in the proximal segment or for the GLUT2 mRNA levels in all segments. CONCLUSION: Iron deficiency decreases the absorption of glucose, sodium, and water and increases SGLT1 mRNA in the intermediate and distal segments of the small intestine of rats.

Effect of soluble fiber pectin on growth and intestinal iron absorption in rats during recovery from iron deficiency anemia.

The objective of this study was to verify whether soluble fiber pectin interferes in growth and intestinal iron absorption in rats during iron deficiency anemia recovery. Twenty-one-day-old Wistar rats (n = 48) were fed for 2 weeks on a diet without iron in order to induce iron deficiency anemia. The anemic animals (age = 36 days) were divided into two groups: (1) pectin, 50 g of pectin per kilogram of diet, and (2) control, diet without dietary fiber. Iron was added to the diets for the two groups in order to reverse the anemia. During the iron deficiency anemia recovery phase (3 weeks), the pectin group showed lower mean values (p < 0.05) of weekly food intake (89.18 +/- 10.82; 107.60 +/- 11.70; 114.50 +/- 16.29 g, respectively, for the pectin group and 99.56 +/- 10.60; 116.36 +/- 15.33; 125.66 +/- 17.25 g, respectively, for the control group). The body weight of the pectin group was lower (p < 0.05) during the study's second and third weeks (192.42 +/- 16.67 and 228.75 +/- 19.81 g, respectively, and 202.87 +/- 19.96 and 243.51 +/- 20.44 g for the control group). Pectin led to a reduction in food intake and growth but not to iron absorption when taking into account the regeneration of hemoglobin mass.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in overweight children and its relationship with retinol serum levels.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the frequency of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, the retinol serum levels, lipid profile, and insulin resistance in overweight/obese children. To relate these biochemical variables with the risk of this disease in the population studied. METHODS: The study was cross-sectional and prospective, with 46 overweight/obese school children (28 female, 18 male; mean age 8.6 years). The control group consisted of 45 children, paired by age and gender. Hepatic steatosis, evaluated by ultrasound, was classified as normal, mild, moderate, or severe. Also evaluated were serum retinol levels; thiobarbituric acid reactive substances; lipid profile; and fasting glucose and serum insulin levels, used for the calculation of the Homeostasis Model Assessment. RESULTS: Hepatic ultrasound alterations were found in 56.5% and 48,9% of the overweight/obese and control group children, respectively. Presence of obesity was associated with high levels of triglycerides (OR = 4.6; P = 0.002). In the studied children, the risk of steatosis was related to a trend to a higher percentage of retinol inadequacy (OR = 2.8; p = 0.051); there was no association with thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, lipid profile, or insulin resistance. CONCLUSIONS: The high frequency of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in both groups, evaluated by hepatic ultrasound, in low-socioeconomic level children, independent of nutritional condition and without significant association with insulin resistance, emphasizes that especially in developing countries, other risk factors such as micronutrient deficiencies (e.g. vitamin A) are involved.