Simultaneous supplementation with iron and folic acid can affect Slc11a2 and Slc46a1 transcription and metabolite concentrations in rats.

Abstract

This study aimed at analysing how dietary folic acid (FA) and iron deficiency followed by supplementation with these nutrients, affect the expression of folate and iron transporters in the duodenum, as well as FA and iron status. After a deficiency period, Wistar rats were randomized to a group fed with a diet deficient in FA and supplemented with iron (DFE), a diet deficient in iron and supplemented with FA (DFOL), a diet supplemented with iron and FA (FEFOL), a diet deficient in iron and FA (D), or a control diet (C). Tissue collection was performed after 2, 10, or 21 days of these diets. Group D had higher Slc11a2 mRNA levels than the DFE group at every time point and there were differences in mRNA levels of Slc46a1 between the DFE and the FEFOL groups at the third time point, but we observed no differences in protein levels between the groups. The DFE and D groups had lower serum folate concentrations at every time-point, but also had the highest homocysteine concentrations. TIBC concentrations were the lowest in the DFE group at the first time-point and in the DFE and the FEFOL groups at the final time point. Simultaneous supplementation with FA and iron resulted in significantly higher haemoglobin concentrations than did supplementation with these nutrients alone. Our findings indicate that dietary FA and iron deficiency, and subsequent supplementation with these nutrients, affect transcription but not the protein levels of FA and iron transporters in the duodenum.