Effect of vitamin a deficiency on iron metabolism and hepcidin mRNA expression in rat

To study the effect of vitamin A deficiency on iron nutritional status in rats and on hepcidin mRNA expression in the liver, 52 SD rats were divided randomly into four groups. They were I normal VA group, II entire VA deficient group, slight VA deficient group and IV slight VA and iron deficient group. After 8 weeks the rats were sacrificed and the serum VA, hemoglobin, serum iron, serum ferritin, iron in the liver, spleen and fumur were determined hepcindin mRNA expression was measured using RT-PCR. VA deficiency decreased serum iron, ferritin, and increased iron in the spleen (P<; 0.05) iron deficiency decreased hepcidin mRNA expression (P <; 0.05). VA deficiency may affect iron nutritional status by influencing absorption, storage and transportation of iron. Iron deficiency may reduce the level of hepcidin mRNA expression in the liver by negative regulation. VA deficiency may influnce hepcidin mRNA expression in the liver and further study needs to be confirmed.