The effects of exercise and dietary iron on iron status in 13 months old female rats

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of exercise and dietary iron on various components of iron metabolism in 13 month old female rats. Fifty-six 13 month old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of five groups of treatment: baseline (BL); 40ppm iron, exercise (40 E); 9ppm iron, exercise (9 E); 40ppm iron, non- exercise (40 NE); 9ppm iron, non-exercise (9 NE). The exercise protocol involved swimming the exercise groups for a period of six weeks, starting with 10 minutes/day until the rats were swimming for 1 hour/day, 5 days/ week, at the sixth week. Results indicated no significant differences in food intake and body weight among the groups. Hematocrit values were similar among groups and did not show significant effects of diet, activity or interaction. Hemoglobin values demonstrated significant effects of activity with values being elevated in the exercise groups (p ≤0.05). No significant effects of diet and interaction on hemoglobin concentrations were observed. Serum iron levels were significantly affected by dietary intake of iron, with levels being lower in the groups consuming the moderately-deficient diet (p≤0.05). Serum iron levels were not significantly affected by activity or interaction of diet and activity. TIBC levels did not demonstrate significant effects of diet, activity or interaction (p