Enhancement by dietary iron of lipid peroxidation in mouse colon

Feeding mice diets containing different amounts of Fe-fumarate over a period of 4 weeks resulted in a dose-dependent increase of iron concentrations in liver as well as proximal and distal colon. In parallel, a dose-dependent increase in lipid peroxidation was observed in these organs; both effects were well correlated. No significant effects were seen in other organs (lung, heart, brain or kidney). As dietary iron was shown to enhance dimethylhydrazine-induced colon carcinogenesis in mice, it is concluded that oxygen activation and lipid peroxidation might be involved in colon tumorigenesis and cell proliferation.