Iron Deficiency and Lipid Metabolism in Animal Models

Iron deficiency in animal models has emerged as a critical driver of alterations in lipid metabolism, with cascading effects on hepatic function, systemic lipid profiles and cellular energy homeostasis. Experimental depletion of iron stores in rodents induces marked changes in the expression of enzymes involved in fatty acid synthesis and β-oxidation, leading to hepatic steatosis or, conversely, impaired lipid uptake. At the molecular level, iron availability modulates the activity of key transcription factors and iron‐responsive elements that regulate genes in cholesterol biosynthesis and lipoprotein assembly. These perturbations often coincide with enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species, further influencing lipid peroxidation and membrane integrity. Animal models of iron deficiency thus provide insight into the bidirectional interplay between iron homeostasis and lipid handling, informing understanding of human disorders such as anaemia-associated dyslipidaemia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome. Such studies also underpin the development of nutritional and pharmacological strategies aimed at restoring balance in iron and lipid pathways, with implications for global health and livestock production.

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Iron Deficiency and Lipid Metabolism in Animal Models publication trend

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Technical terms

Lipid metabolism: The ensemble of biochemical processes responsible for the synthesis, modification and degradation of lipids within cells and tissues.

Lipoproteins: Macromolecular complexes that transport lipids through the bloodstream, classified by density into chylomicrons, VLDL, LDL and HDL.

Ferritin: A cellular iron‐storage protein that reflects total iron reserves and regulates iron availability for metabolic processes.

Hepatic steatosis: Accumulation of fat droplets within liver cells, often resulting from imbalances in lipid uptake, synthesis and export.

Oxidative stress: A state in which the production of reactive oxygen species exceeds antioxidant defences, leading to lipid peroxidation and cellular damage.

References

1. BLOOD PROTEIN SPECTRUM AFTER FEEDING RATS WITH METAL COMPLEXES IN THE COMPOSITION OF A POLYMER TRANSPORTER AND A NUTRIENT-DEFICIENT DIET. Scientific and Technical Bulletin оf State Scientific Research Control Institute of Veterinary Medical Products and Fodder Additives аnd Institute of Animal Biology (2023).
2. Diet and cholesterolemia: VII. Effects of methionine, ethionine, and p-fluorophenylalanine*. Journal of Lipid Research (1963).