Abstract: Inhibitoiy effects of irondeficint diet on the evolution of persistent nodules into hepatocellular carc;inom as were exam fined in F344 rat liver. Persistent nodules were induced initiation w ith N-nitrosodpthy lamine（200mg/kg )followed by selction using the procedure of Cavan a et al 3 weels after completinn of selection procedure animals bearing persistent nodules were given high iron(5000ppm）iron deficient(<5ppm)and normal iron(180ppn)sem isysthetic; diets for 29 weels、Iron deficient dpts significantly decreased the number of hepatocellular carcincmas per rat The results suggested iron deficientdpts inhibited the evohxtion of persistent nodules into hepatocellular arcinom as.