Effects of an Iron Supplementation Combined to either a Zinc Deficiency or a Zinc Supplementation in Pregnant Rat

Objectives: This article reports the effects of an Iron overload on oxidative stress, and the protective role of Zinc. Pregnancy was chosen because it enhances the interactions and the effects of both metals on physiological processes and on oxidative stress. Design and methods: Four groups of pregnant rats were compared. The first 16-rats were included in the control group (Group I), a second 16-rats group (Group II) was supplemented with Iron, in the third group (Group III) 16 rats were supplemented both with Iron and Zinc and in the last group (Group IV), the 16 rats were supplemented with Iron but fed a Zincdeficient diet. Results: In the groups II and IV, plasma malondialdehyde concentrations were significantly higher than in the groups I and III while plasma SOD was lower in the groups II and IV than in the two others. PLasma α- tocopherol concentrations were lower in the groups IV,II and III as compared to the control group. Conclusion: This experiment shows the deleterious effects of Iron and the protective effect of Zinc. Indeed, oxidative stress was increased in the Zinc deficient group.