Significant correlations between serum hepcidin and hepatic DMT1, serum hepcidin and hepatic TfR1, and serum erythroferrone and TfR2
The study explored the impact of multistrain probiotic supplementation, including Lactobacillus salivarius W24, on iron metabolism in Wistar rats. Thirty rats were divided into three groups: a placebo group, and two probiotic groups receiving daily doses of 2.5 × 10^9 CFU and 1 × 10^10 CFU, respectively. The probiotics consisted of nine bacterial strains, with L. salivarius W24 being one of them. Over six weeks, various parameters related to iron metabolism were measured, including serum concentrations of hepcidin, lactoferrin, homocysteine, ferritin, and erythroferrone, as well as liver content of divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1), transferrin receptors (TfR1 and TfR2), and ZRT/IRT-like protein 14 (ZIP14).
The results indicated no significant differences between the groups in terms of the measured serum concentrations and liver protein contents. However, significant correlations were noted between serum hepcidin and liver DMT1 and TfR1, and between serum erythroferrone and liver TfR2. These findings suggest that while the probiotic supplementation did not disrupt iron homeostasis or significantly alter the measured parameters, it highlighted important regulatory mechanisms involving hepcidin and erythroferrone in iron metabolism. The study concludes that multistrain probiotic supplementation, including L. salivarius W24, is safe and does not adversely affect iron balance, thereby supporting its potential use in dietary interventions.
Skrypnik, K., Bogdański, P., et al. Hepcidin and erythroferrone correlate with hepatic iron transporters in rats supplemented with multispecies probiotics. Molecules. 2020, 25(7): 1674.
