Impact of Iron-enriched Aspergillus oryzae on Iron Bioavailability, Safety and Gut Microbiota in Rats.

Impact of Iron-enriched Aspergillus oryzae on Iron Bioavailability, Safety and Gut Microbiota in Rats.

J Agric Food Chem. 2018 May 31;:

Authors: Reddy MB, Armah SM

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency is a leading global nutritional problem. Ferrous sulfate (FeSO4) is the most common iron source used for supplementation. Because of many side effects associated with its consumption, it is important to identify new forms of iron.
OBJECTIVES: To assess the bioavailability of iron-enriched Aspergillus oryzae, Aspiron® (ASP), evaluate the toxicity of high-dose iron supplementation with ASP; and determine ASP impact on gut microbiota in rats.
METHODS: In this study, we investigated iron bioavailability using hemoglobin repletion test. Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and blood urea nitrogen levels were determined to evaluate the effect on liver and kidney function. Protein carbonyls were measured to assess oxidative damage to proteins. Fecal samples at the end of the 14-day repletion period were used for 16S rRNA sequencing for gut microbiota analysis. Slope ratio method using a common intercept-linear regression model was used to compare the bioavailability of the ASP to FeSO4.
RESULTS: Iron repletion increased hemoglobin concentrations with both ASP or FeSO4 treatments compared to control group, except in the lowest ASP group. The slope ratio indicated that relative iron bioavailability of ASP was 60% that of FeSO4 when hemoglobin change was compared to iron in the diet. Similar results were obtained when absolute iron intake was compared based on food consumption. Compared to the control, protein carbonyl concentrations were significantly (P<0.05) higher in FeSO4 group but not with ASP group. Supplementation with both sources of iron reduced the Enterobacteriace population in the gut microbiota of the rats. A higher relative abundance of bacteria from the phylum Verrucomicrobia was also observed with the highest dose of ASP.
CONCLUSIONS: Iron-enriched A. oryzae with 60% of RBV of FeSO4, did not show any signs of adverse effects after 14 days of iron supplementation. Future human studies are needed to understand the ASP detailed effect on gut microbiota.

PMID: 29852063 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

Source: Industry