Delayed Upper Gastrointestinal Motility in Mice Treated with Oral Iron Tablets

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Oral iron supplements are common treatments for iron deficiency anemia.
• Gastrointestinal side effects like nausea and vomiting are frequently reported with oral iron therapy.
• The underlying mechanism linking these symptoms to gastrointestinal motility remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between oral iron preparations, nausea/vomiting, and gastrointestinal motility.
• To determine if sodium ferrous citrate (SFC), a common oral iron ingredient, affects gastric emptying and colonic transport.

Main Methods:

• Gastrointestinal motility was assessed in mice using the ¹³C-octanoic acid breath test for gastric emptying and the bead expulsion test for colonic transport.
• The effect of SFC on motility was evaluated.
• The impact of palonosetron, a 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 (5-HT₃) receptor inhibitor, on SFC-induced changes in gastric emptying was examined.

Main Results:

• Sodium ferrous citrate (SFC) significantly delayed gastric emptying in mice.
• SFC did not alter colonic transport capacity.
• Palonosetron treatment effectively reversed the delayed gastric emptying caused by SFC, while palonosetron alone had no effect on gastric emptying.

Conclusions:

• Oral iron preparations, specifically SFC, induce nausea and vomiting by delaying gastric emptying, likely through chemical stimulation of the upper gastrointestinal tract.
• This delayed gastric emptying is a key factor in the onset of iron-induced nausea.
• Understanding this association is crucial for managing adverse effects of oral iron therapy.