Effect of synergic dietary calcium enrichment and induced ferropenic anemia on antioxidant enzymes activity in rats

Abstract 

Objective

The aim of this study was to examine the synergism of dietary calcium enrichment (added to goat's or cow's milk) and induced nutritional ferropenic anemia on oxidative status.

Methods

Control rats and rats with induced nutritional ferropenic anemia were fed for 14 d with diets containing normal (5000 mg/kg) or double (10 000 mg/kg) the recommended calcium content. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in plasma were measured, as were the activities of the antioxidant enzyme catalase, copper/zinc superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase in erythrocyte cytosol.

Results

Dietary calcium enrichment did not affect oxidative stress as assessed by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances; however, it significantly upregulated the activities of some antioxidant enzymes examined in the erythrocyte cytosol. In particular, adding calcium to standard or milk-based diets significantly increased glutathione peroxidase activity in control and anemic rats and copper/zinc superoxide dismutase activity in control rats.

Conclusion

The increased activities of glutathione peroxidase and copper/zinc superoxide dismutase induced by dietary calcium enrichment suggest that calcium supplementation may protect against oxidative stress even in nutritionally induced ferropenic anemia.

Keywords: Goat's and cow's milk, Calcium enrichment, Anemia, Oxidative status