(P18-011-25) Garlic Aids Iron Supplementation to Recover Iron Stores and Immune Function in Iron Deficiency Anemia In-Vivo

Objectives: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a very common micro-nutrient deficiency with a global impact on the lives of millions of women and children. Available iron supplements are associated with adverse effects as problems with intestinal absorption and poor patient compliance. Garlic is regularly consumed for culinary and also known for diverse medicinal properties especially due to its antioxidant properties. It has been found to improve iron metabolism and improve homeostasis by up-regulating the expression of ferroportin. This study aims to investigate the role of food and dietary diversification to control iron deficiency anemia, improve iron restoration, and reduce the side effects of iron salts given as supplements.

Methods: Female weaning (21 days old) Wistar rats, fed on the low iron diet for 4 weeks were used as the animal model of IDA that were subsequently followed by the treatment with ferrous sulfate (FeSO₄) (100 mg/Kg), methanolic garlic extract (100 mg/Kg), and their combination for 30 days. Blood parameters (hemoglobin, serum iron), histopathology, iron storage, CD68, iNOS and SLC40 expression in rat spleen were investigated.

Results: It was observed that garlic improves iron absorption when given with FeSO₄ orally in IDA as revealed by the normalization of the low levels of hemoglobin, serum iron and presence of obvious iron stores in spleen. Moreover, garlic regulates iron homeostasis. In IDA rats, the CD68 expression on splenic macrophages was increased but the iNOS and SLC40 expression was decreased. Following FeSO₄ supplementation alone, CD68, iNOS and SLC40 were over-expressed as compared to normal. Combined administration of FeSO₄ and garlic did normalized the expression of CD68, iNOS and SLC40, preventing from immune dysfunction resulting from either down regulation or over-expression of CD68, iNOS and SLC40.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that garlic aids in iron absorption rather regulates iron homeostasis in state of iron deficiency anemia together with regulation of iNOS expression by macrophages. Further experiments are required in order to get a more clear understanding of the ongoing physiological events and the effect of multiple factors in vivo.

Funding Sources: International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.