Se bioavailability and glutathione peroxidase activity in iron deficient rats

Little information is available on the relationship of Se deposit in target organs and GPx activity in iron deficiency anemia. As red blood cells (RBCs) play a crucial role on Se metabolism and during Fe deficiency anemia a lower count of RBCs is featured, we aimed to investigate the influence of this pathology on Se bioavailability and the relationship with antioxidant status. 20 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups, a control group receiving AIN-93G diet with normal Fe content (45 mg/kg diet) and the Fe-deficient group receiving AIN-93G diet with low Fe content (5 mg/kg diet) for 40 days. Both diets were prepared with an adequate Se content (0.180 mg/kg diet). The digestive and metabolic utilization of Se, the distribution in target organ, the GPx activity and TBARS production were measured after receiving the diets. Se retention increased (P < 0.001) in the anemic group, fact that contributes to keep the enzymatic antioxidant activity of GPx in normal levels and the tendency observed is that stored Se increased in the organs, especially in kidney (P < 0.01), however, a lower Se deposit was found in sternum of anemic rats (P < 0.001). The lower count of RBCs featured in this pathology (P < 0.001) causes a decrease of Se concentration in sternum meanwhile the increase in kidney deposit is a consequence of the lower urinary losses (P < 0.001).