Anti-anaemia efficacy of β-lactoglobulin hydrolysate-iron complex on iron-deficient anaemic rats

The effects of orally administered beta-lactoglobulin hydrolysate-iron complex (beta-LGH-Fe) on haematological and biochemical parameters in anaemic rats were evaluated. Female weaning Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with iron-deficient diet to induce iron deficiency anaemia. After 6 weeks, the obtained anaemic rats were divided into five groups: iron deficiency control group (iron-deficient diet without beta-LGH-Fe complex supplementation, IDC); three groups supplemented with different dosages of beta-LGH-Fe complex (0.5 mg Fe/kg BW, iron-deficient diet with low beta-LGH-Fe, IDLFe; 2.0 mg Fe/kg BW, iron-deficient diet with medium beta-LGH-Fe, IDMF; 4.0 mg Fe/kg BW, iron-deficient diet with high beta-LGH-Fe, IDHFe); and ferrous sulphate-supplemented group at a dosage of 2.0 mg Fe/kg BW. beta-LGH-Fe complex could significantly improve hematocrit and haemoglobin decrease, and normalise the serum iron level, total iron-binding capacity and transferrin saturation of anaemic rats in a dose-dependent manner. Serum ferritin content and hepatic nonheme iron level were also increased. In addition, the antioxidant enzyme activities of superoxidase dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in both plasma and liver homogenate were improved. The production of malondialdehyde and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha and IL-6) decreased. It suggests that beta-LGH-Fe complex can ameliorate iron deficiency anaemia, which might make it a potential ingredient with anti-anaemia activity.