Iron status in rats fed high-fat magnesium-deficient diets: the contribution of systemic inflammation and the intestinal microenvironment

• Grant number: 12/16284-5
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2013
• End date: September 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Science
• Principal Investigator: Célia Colli
• Grantee: Célia Colli
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Antonio José Piantino Ferreira ; Lilian Rose Marques de Sá

Abstract

Obesity, which is characterized by increased adiposity, can promote systemic low-grade subclinical inflammation which is one of the main factors in the etiology of chronic non-communicable diseases. Dietary magnesium (Mg) deficiency, commonly observed in population studies, is a condition that can contribute to the inflammatory process of obese patients. This condition, in turn, may indirectly influence iron (Fe) homeostasis in these individuals. The objective of this project is to evaluate the influence of high- fat (soybean oil and lard) and magnesium deficient diets (30% of the Mg recommendation for rodents) on the inflammatory process and its impact on Fe status of male Wistar rats, during 60 days. In order to evaluating the influence of the intestinal microbiota, the animals will receive an antibiotic solution (1 g/L ampicillin + 1 g/L neomycin) in their drinking water, in the last 20 experimental days. Inflammation and intestinal permeability will be investigated through biochemical, histological and gene expression analyses. The understanding of changes in Fe metabolism, in these conditions, might contribute for the development of strategies aimed at improving Fe status in obese individuals. (AU)