Iron Deficiency Lipemia in the Rat and Chick

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Abstract
Severe iron deficiency was produced in male and female rats fed two different diets low in iron. After 5 weeks a lipemia was evident characterized by a marked rise in plasma triglyceride levels. Plasma cholesterol and phospholipid levels were either depressed or relatively unchanged. After 1 week of iron supplementation the animals showed the expected hematologic response and this was accompanied by a significant reduction in the serum triglyceride levels. Additional experiments showed that the triglyceridemia associated with anemia is also dependent upon the kind and amount of fat in the diet as well as the protein level. Severe iron deficiency in chicks was also associated with a marked elevation in serum triglycerides and smaller elevations of cholesterol and phospholipids. This lipemia was associated with a significant elevation in the total plasma proteins, primarily albumin, and a moderate accumulation of fat in the livers.