Evaluation of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant system in healthy iron-replete infants receiving iron prophylaxis

• Published in: Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) Los Angeles County, Calif.), 2013, Vol.29 (1), p.138-142
• Main Authors: Hacıhamdioglu, Duygu Övunc, M.D, Kurekci, A. Emin, M.D, Gursel, Orhan, M.D, Atay, A. Avni, M.D, Balamtekin, Necati, M.D, Aydın, Ahmet, M.D, Haşimi, Adnan, M.D, Ozcan, Okan, M.D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anemia; Antioxidant system; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; blood cell counts; catalase; Catalase - blood; Copper; Copper - blood; Dietary Supplements - adverse effects; disease control; Erythrocytes - drug effects; Erythrocytes - metabolism; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Ferritins - blood; Ferrous Compounds - administration & dosage; Ferrous Compounds - adverse effects; ferrous sulfate; free radical scavengers; Free Radical Scavengers - metabolism; Free radicals; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; glutathione peroxidase; Glutathione Peroxidase - blood; head circumference; hemoglobin; Humans; Infant; Infants; Iron; Iron - blood; Iron - deficiency; Iron prophylaxis; Iron, Dietary - administration & dosage; Iron, Dietary - adverse effects; Lipid peroxidation; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Male; malondialdehyde; Peroxidation; Prophylaxis; superoxide dismutase; Superoxide Dismutase - blood; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; zinc; Zinc - blood
• ISSN: 0899-9007; 1873-1244
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2012.05.009

Abstract Objective Iron supplementation is commonly recommended for infants; however, there are some reports that it causes oxidative damage. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential effects of iron supplementation at 4 mo of age, for a period of 2 mo, on lipid peroxidation and free radical scavenging enzymes. Methods Twenty-seven healthy 4-mo-old infants chosen randomly and given iron supplementation (ferrous sulfate, 10 mg of elemental iron per day) constituted the study group and 26 healthy 4-mo-old infants who were chosen randomly and not given iron supplementation constituted the control group. Weight, height, head circumference, complete blood cell count, serum ferritin level and intraerythrocytic zinc, iron, copper, malondialdehyde, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase levels were measured in the two groups at 4 and 6 mo of life. Results Compared with controls at 6 mo of age, no significant differences were observed for intraerythrocytic zinc (0.5 ± 0.1 versus 0.6 ± 0.2 μg/mL, P > 0.05), copper (0.2 ± 0.1 versus 0.2 ± 0.2 μg/mL, P > 0.05), iron (130.8 ± 10.9 versus 127.4 ± 11.1 μg/mL, P > 0.05), malondialdehyde (21.4 ± 3.5 versus 22.4 ± 2.3 nmol/g of hemoglobin, P > 0.05), catalase (135.4 ± 23.9 versus 135.1 ± 23.3 MU/g of hemoglobin, P > 0.05), superoxide dismutase (1736.4 ± 141.1 versus 1701.3 ± 103.9 U/g of hemoglobin, P > 0.05), and glutathione peroxidase (8.9 ± 1.6 versus 8.4 ± 1.6 U/g of hemoglobin, P  > 0.05) levels. Conclusion Our study indicates that the supplemental use of elemental iron 10 mg/d for a period of 2 mo in healthy iron-replete infants did not cause lipid peroxidation or an impairment of antioxidant status.