Iron status assessment in rats fed high-fat diets

• Grant number: 09/13006-1
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2010
• Effective date (End): February 29, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Science
• Principal researcher: Célia Colli
• Grantee: Eduardo Henrique Szpak Gaievski
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Obesity, is considered as a multifactorial syndrome, influenced by genetic and environmentalfactors. It is characterized by the expansion of the adipose tissue as a result of a positive energy imbalance. The increase in adiposity may promote a low-intensity chronic inflammatory scenario, which is involved in the etiology of peripheral insulin resistance, thus contributing to increase the cardiovascular risk. The relation between the increase in adiposity and alterations in Fe status was raised from the knowledge about how the genes involved in Fe homeostasis worked. The present project intends to investigate the eventual alterations in Fe homeostasis and its repercussions on the bioavailability of the mineral in a model of obesity in rats fed high-fat diets(comprising a mixture of soybean oil and swine fat [lard]) in different levels, over 60 days. Pair feeding groups will be utilized to correct the amount of energy consumed by the high-fat groups in comparison to the control group (normal level of lipids in the diet). Fe status, assessed through biochemical and gene expression parameters, as well as through the lipid profile and both inflammation and insulin resistance markers, will be analyzed after 15, 30 and 60 days ofexperimentation.