Effects of excess dietary iron and fat on glucose and lipid metabolism

High iron levels increased blood glucose levels but decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. The HF group showed increases in plasma levels of glucose and insulin and insulin resistance. HF+Fe mice showed greater changes. Representative indices of iron status, such hepatic and plasma Fe levels, were not altered further by the HF. However, both the HF and excess iron loading changed the hepatic expression of hepcidin and ferroportin. The LF+Fe, HF and HF+Fe groups showed greater hepatic fat accumulation compared with the LF group. These changes were paralleled by alterations in the levels of enzymes related to hepatic gluconeogenesis and lipid synthesis, which could be due to increases in mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress.