Open AccessSupplementation of Milk with Iron Bound to Lactoferrin Using Weanling Mice
Author(s) -
GunBritt Fransson,
Carl L. Keen,
Bo Lönnerdal
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.206
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1536-4801
pISSN - 0277-2116
DOI - 10.1097/00005176-198311000-00021
Subject(s) - lactoferrin , weanling , anemia , medicine , serum iron , endocrinology , iron deficiency anemia , dietary iron , iron status , iron supplement , iron deficiency , transferrin , food science , biochemistry , biology
Lactoferrin is an iron-binding protein present in high concentrations in human milk. The efficacy of supplementing iron bound to lactoferrin to iron-deficient and iron-sufficient young mice was evaluated in comparison with supplementation of iron as iron chloride. Mice fed a nonsupplemented milk diet (approximately 1 mg Fe/L) for 4 weeks had a microcytic, hypochromic anemia and low tissue iron concentrations. Iron supplementation of the diet with lactoferrin-iron, or iron chloride at a level of 5 mg Fe/L prevented the anemia and resulted in tissue iron levels similar to levels found for mice fed a stock commercial diet. There was no significant difference in any of the parameters analyzed between the groups of mice receiving the two iron supplements following a diet deficient in iron. Apolactoferrin when supplemented to the diet had no negative effect on the iron status of the mice. These results show that lactoferrin may be a useful vehicle for supplementation of iron.