1: J Nutr. 2004 Jan;134(1):99-103. Related Articles, Links
Iron supplementation does not affect the susceptibility of
LDL to oxidative modification in women with low iron status.
Binkoski AE, Kris-Etherton PM, Beard JL.
Graduate Program in Nutrition, The Department of Nutritional
Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University
Park, PA, USA.
Elevated iron stores may or may not promote atherogenesis by
increasing free radical formation and oxidative stress, but
controlled diet and supplement trials are lacking. We tested
the hypothesis that iron supplementation does not increase
the susceptibility of LDL to undergo oxidative modification
in women with low iron status. A randomized, double-blind,
2-period crossover study design (n=26) was used to examine
the effects of the following diets on measures of LDL
oxidation: average American diet (AAD) [36% of energy as
fat; 15% saturated fatty acids (SFA)], and a Step 2 diet
(26% fat; 7% SFA). In addition, subjects received either a
supplement containing 160 mg of ferrous sulfate (50 mg
elemental iron) or a placebo twice daily [supplement group
received a total of 320 mg ferrous sulfate (100 mg elemental
iron) daily]. After supplementation, serum ferritin differed
between the supplement and placebo groups (P=0.008).
Measures of LDL oxidation were not affected by supplement
intake; however, they were affected by diet. Lag time was
shorter after the women consumed the AAD diet than after the
Step 2 diet (P<0.0001). The diets did not affect the rate of
oxidation or total dienes. Although iron status was improved
by aggressive iron supplementation, LDL oxidative
susceptibility was not affected. As expected, lag time was
increased after the women consumed the low fat, low SFA
diet. Therefore, the results of this study do not support a
relationship between iron status and LDL oxidation.