Effects of Feeding 5-Aminolevulinic Acid on Iron Status in Weaned Rats from the Female Rats during Gestation and Lactation

Abstract

Using female Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats as a model, the current study aimed to investigate whether feeding 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) to female SD rats during gestation and lactation can affect the iron status of weaned rats and provide new ideas for the iron supplementation of piglets. A total of 27 pregnant SD rats were randomly assigned to three treatments in nine replicates, with one rat per litter. Dietary treatments were basal diet (CON), CON + 50 mg/kg 5-ALA (5-ALA50), and CON + 100 mg/kg 5-ALA (5-ALA100). After parturition, ten pups in each litter (a total of 270) were selected for continued feeding by their corresponding mother, and the pregnant rats were fed diets containing 5-ALA (0, 50 and 100 mg/kg diet) until the newborn pups were weaned at 21 days. The results showed that the number of red blood cells (RBCs) in weaned rats in the 5-ALA100 group was significantly higher (p p Hepcidin mRNA in the liver of weaned rats, with the 5-ALA100 group having the highest (p p Hepcidin mRNA in the liver of weaned rats. The other indicators between the 5-ALA groups had no effects. However, the level of total iron binding capacity (TIBC) was significantly decreased (p p = 0.085). In addition, feeding a 5-ALA-supplemented diet could also significantly reduce (p TfR1 mRNA in the liver of weaning rats (p Tfr1 was not affected between 5-ALA groups. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 5-ALA could improve the blood parameters, increase the concentration of Hepcidin in the liver and serum, and affect the expression of iron-related genes in the liver of weaned rats. Moreover, it is appropriate to add 50 mg/kg 5-ALA to the diet under this condition.

Keywords

• 5-aminolevulinic acid
• iron status
• weaned rats
• female rats