Impaired ketogenesis in iron-deficient rat pups

Livers of Fe-deficient rat pups contain significantly less carnitine and more triacylglycerol (TG) than livers of control pups. Carnitine affects ketogenesis (KG), which is a vital adaptation in the neonate. To determine if KG is impaired by low carnitine in Fe-deficient pup liver, ketone body synthesis was measured in liver mitochondria from 15-d-old pups. Litters from Fe-deficient (-Fe) and Fe-adequate (+Fe) dams were orally supplemented with water (W) as a control, 18 mM ferrous sulfate, or 10 mM L-carnitine from d 8 through d 15 of lactation. The amount of ketone bodies (beta-hydroxybutyrate + acetoacetate) synthesized was 68% less (P less than 0.05) in -FeW pups than in +FeW pups. Iron or carnitine supplementation increased KG in -Fe pups to +Fe KG levels, but carnitine did not affect KG in +Fe pups. Liver TG in +Fe pups was not altered by supplementation, but liver TG was -FeW pups. The data support the hypothesis that in the Fe-deficient suckling rat -FeW pups. The data support the hypothesis that in the Fe-deficient suckling rat, low carnitine levels may contribute to impaired ketogenesis and increased lipids in liver.