Objective   To explore the influences of iron overload on lipid peroxidation in liver and brain of rats and the inhibiting effects of antioxidant vitamins including vitamin E and β carotene on the influence induced by iron overload.

  Methods   80 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 8 groups according to the weight, the diets of the former 4 groups differed only in iron concentration: 50, 200, 350 or 500 mg/(kg°diet).The diets of the latter 4 groups were consistent with the former 4 groups respectively, but complemented with vitamin E100 mg/(kg°diet)and β-carotene25 mg/(kg°bw)at the same time.After 8 weeks, the indexes were determined including serum iron, blood lipid(including total cholesterol TC, triglyceride TG, high density lipoprotein HDL, low density lipoprotein LDL), vitamin E, vitamin A and oxidized low density lipoprotein(OX-LDL)in serum; maglonydiadehyde(MDA), the activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD)and glututhione peroxidase(GSH-Px)in liver and brain homogenate.

  Results   Iron overload increased the levels of MDA in liver significantly.The activity of GSH-Px in liver and brain increased irritably and the contents of vitamin E and vitamin A decreased significantly.Complementing antioxidant vitamins caused the levels of MDA in liver and brain to decrease compared with those of the corresponding iron overload groups.

  Conclusion   Iron overload could promote the lipid peroxidation reaction in liver and brain.Antioxidant vitamins may play a role through nonenzyme reactive system to inhibit the above changes.