Effect of selenium deficiency on liver iron stores in mice

Excess Fe accumulation has been associated with increased risk of chronic disease in humans. Others have shown that rats fed Se deficient diets containing normal Fe levels accumulate excess hepatic Fe. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of Se deficiency on Fe accumulation in mice fed adequate or high Fe diets. Sixty-four weanling male mice were divided into 2 groups and fed either a Se deficient diet or the same diet supplemented with 0.2 μg Se/g diet added as sodium selenite. Half the mice in each group consumed diets supplemented with adequate (35 μg Fe/g) or high (1050 μg Fe/g) Fe added as ferric citrate. Mice were fed diets over a 4 or 12 week period. Mice fed the high Fe diets had increased liver Fe stores while mice fed the Se deficient diets had decreased liver glutathione peroxidase (GPX1) activity after both 4 and 12 weeks. After 4 weeks, Se deficiency had a significant (P = 0.048) effect on liver Fe stores. Mice fed Se deficient diets had elevated liver Fe concentration compared to mice fed Se adequate diets although differences between individual diets were not significant. After 12 weeks, however, Se deficiency had no effect on liver Fe stores. Mice fed the Se deficient diet containing high Fe had elevated liver TBARS levels compared to mice fed the Se adequate diet containing adequate or high Fe after 4 weeks. Mice fed the Se deficient diet containing high Fe had elevated plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels compared to mice fed the Se adequate diet containing high Fe after 4 weeks. Mice fed the Se deficient diet containing high Fe had decreased plasma triglyceride levels compared to mice fed the Se adequate diet containing adequate Fe after 12 weeks. Increased oxidative stress, a consequence of decreased Se status may affect liver Fe accumulation as well as plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels.