In this study, we produced iron-fortified yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) producing Sus scrofa ferritin heavy-chain to provide iron supplementation in anemic piglets. We determined whether iron-ferritin accumulated in recombinant yeasts could improve iron deficiency in mice. C57BL/6 male mice exposed to Fe-deficient diet for 2 weeks were given a single dose of ferrous ammonium sulfate (FAS), ferritin-producing recombinant yeast (APO), or APO reacted with iron (Fe²+) (FER). The bioavailability of recombinant yeasts was examined by measuring body weight gain, hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit value 1 week later. In addition, ferritin protein levels were evaluated by western blot analysis and iron stores in tissues were measured by inductively coupled plasma spectrometer. We found that anemic mice treated with FER exhibited increased levels of ferritin heavy-chain in spleen and liver. Consistently, this treatment restored the iron concentration in these tissues. In addition, this treatment significantly increased hemoglobin value and the hematocrit ratio. Furthermore, FER treatment significantly enhanced body weight gain. These results suggest that the iron-fortified recombinant yeast strain is bioavailable.

This study was designed to elucidate the effects of iron, a well known catalyst of lipid peroxidation, on the contents of phospholipids, unsaturated fatty acids composed in phospholipid molecules and their derivatives, prostaglandins, and the composition changes of fatty acids contained in phospholipids. Iron decreased the contents of phospholipids and its components of unsaturated fatty acids. Catalytic action of iron decreased the composition rates of linoleate and linolenate composed in phospholipid molecules, while that of arachidonate was inclined to increase. The content of arachidonate was increased and that of prostaglandins was decreased without regard to increase the precursor of prostaglandins. It may be concluded that the decreases of the activities of prostaglandins and the increase of arachidonate are due to inhibition of the activities of enzyme systems responsible for prostaglandin synthesis by lipid peroxides produced by the catalyst of iron

This study was attempted to verify the mechanisms of RBC survival time shortened with vitamin E deficient and decrement of phospholipid concentrations by administration of iron. The concentration of iron in basal ration (group A and group B) was 40 mg/kg of feed, and the final concentrations of iron in the Fe (OH)3 supplemented-rations (group C and group D) were 13,496 mg/kg and 26,973 mg/kg, respectively