Bioavailability of different sources of dietary iron fed to Pitman-Moore miniature pigs
Anderson, T.A.; Filer, L.J.; Fomon, S.J.; Andersen, D.W.; Nixt, T.L.; Rogers, R.R.; Jensen, R.L.; Nelson, S.E.
Journal of Nutrition 104(5): 619-628
1974
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-3166 PMID: 4363077 Document Number: 81576
From 5 to 33 days old 56 Pitman-Moore miniature pigs were given a diet of cereals and milk which contained 8 mg Fe/kg. The pigs were in 7 groups one of which had no addition to the diet; the rest had ferrous sulphate, catalytically reduced Fe, electrolytic Fe powder, sodium iron pyrophosphate, ferripolyphosphate powder and disodium iron EDTA to give Fe 68, 66, 66, 64, 64 and 69 mg/kg, respectively. Bodyweight and weight gain did not differ significantly between controls and those given Fe supplements but gain in weight between 21 and 28 days was significantly less in controls and those on sodium iron pyrophosphate than in those given ferrous sulphate, ferripolyphosphate and disodium iron EDTA. Final Hb and haematocrit values were less than initial values in controls and those on reduced Fe, electrolytic Fe and sodium iron pyrophosphate. The efficiency with which supplemental Fe was incorporated into Hb ranged between 27 and 30% in pigs given ferrous sulphate, ferripolyphosphate and disodium iron EDTA, was 21% in those on electrolytic Fe and about 10% for those on the other 2 supplements. Controls differed from the other groups in that liver weight was significantly less, weights of spleen, heart and kidney were significantly greater, less of an intraperitoneal injection of 59Fe was retained in Hb and organs and of the retained 59Fe significantly less was in Hb and significantly more was in tissue. Fe status as estimated from Hb and haematocrit seemed to be inversely related with 59Fe in liver, spleen, kidney and heart.