Abstract
Background: Iron is an essential nutrient for health and well-being. Mild gastric discomfort has however been reported following supplemental iron intake. This study was therefore designed to investigate the effects of chronic iron intake on gastric mucosal integrity and motility in male Wistar rats. Methods: Forty animals (190-210g) were randomly divided into 2 equal groups and treated orally with either normal saline (0.2ml/day) or iron (3mg/ kg/day) for 28 days respectively. Thereafter, gastric acid secretion, acidity, ulcer score, emptying and intestinal transit was evaluated. Retro-orbital blood samples were also collected for haematological (RBC count, PCV, haemoglobin, platelets, total and differential WBC counts) analysis, serum iron, transferrin, ferritin, and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC). Stomach samples were also harvested for histology, mucus and parietal cell counts, gastric antioxidant status (reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, nitric oxide, malondialdehyde), mucin concentration and total protein. Results: The iron treated animals showed increased (P<0.05) monocytes, serum iron, ferritin, transferrin, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), gastric juice pH, malondialdehyde and SOD compared to control. Iron treated group also exhibited increased gastric nitric oxide, mucus content, parietal and mucous cell counts compared to control. Reductions (P<0.05) in gastric catalase, reduced glutathione, gastric emptying and intestinal motility which was accompanied
by gastric mucous cell hyperplasia, coagulation necrosis, and moderate atrophy of parietal and chief cells were also observed in the iron treated group.
Co nc l u s i o n : Ch r o n i c i r o n i nt a ke i mp a i r s gastrointestinal motility, induces gastric oxidative stress, and causes gastric structurally aberrations that may predispose to increased acidity of gastric juice and ulceration.
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