A high protein diet does not enhance the anemia mitigating effect of resistance exercise in rats

Resistance exercise mitigates iron‐deficiency anemia in rats (Asai et al. EB2009). Protein promotes iron absorption. The purpose of this study was to examine whether a high protein diet could enhance the anemia mitigating effect of resistance exercise in rats. Fifteen male rats (4 weeks old) were divided into two groups, a high protein diet (H, 35% of energy) or a normal protein diet (N, 20% of energy). Both diets were moderately iron‐deficient (12 mg Fe/kg diet). All rats performed a climbing exercise (5 min × 6 sets/d, 3 d/w) for 3 weeks. The plasma iron concentration tended to be higher in the H group. Although the hepatic aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity tended to be higher in the N group, hemoglobin, hematocrit, total iron binding capacity and transferrin saturation did not differ between the groups. The iron content in the heart tended to be higher in the H group in comparison to the N group; whereas the content in the liver, kidney and spleen did not differ. Therefore, a high protein diet does not appear to enhance the anemia mitigating effect of resistance exercise in rats.