Objective   To study the effect of mild iron deficiency and mild iron supplementation on the metabolism of diet induced obese rats.

  Methods   Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups according to hemoglobin and body weight:A group was fed with basic diet(50 mg/kg iron), B, C and D group were fed with high fat and different iron level diet(containing 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg and 75 mg/kg iron respectively).The iron was ferric citrate.After 11 weeks, rats were sacrificed, blood glucose, serum lipids and hormones were meaur ed, and iron indexes were also measured.

  Results   Serumiron and liveriron level of B and C group significantly decreased compared with A group(P < 0.05).Compared wtih B and C group, serum iron and liver iron level of D group significantly increased(P < 0.05), near to A group.Compared wtih A group, body fat content and triglycer id of B group significantly increased(P < 0.05), all hormone indexes decr eased except leptin, and glucagon decreased statistically(P < 0.05).Body fat content, blood glucose and triglyceride of D group significantly decreased co mpared wit h B group(P < 0.05), trig lycer ide sig nificantly decr eased compared with C group; etraiodothyronine and grow th hormone significantly increased compared with B group(P < 0.05).

  Conclusion   Mildiron deficiency may ag gravate the obesity and metabolism disturbance of obese rats; mildiron supplementation may improve the obesity and metabolism disturbance of obese rats.