Red cell superoxide dismutase is increased in iron deficiency anemia

Red blood cells (RBC) from iron-deficient rats were found to generate more malonyldialdehyde after in vitro incubation with H2O2 than RBC from control rats (p less than 0.001). The iron-deficient RBC, however, had a higher content of superoxide dismutase (SOD) than control RBC (p less than 0.02). This finding suggests an increased formation of SOD compensatory to an increased oxidant stress.