Do iron deficiencies alter physical fitness levels in CD-1 female mice?Asa Smith, Department of Biology, York College

Project summaryThis proposal will focus on determining if iron deficiencies alter physical fitness levels in CD-1 female mice. Iron is beneficial as part of hemoglobin, where it transports oxygen through the blood to essential organs and muscles. Iron deficiencies have been seen to reduce the amount of hemoglobin recorded in athletes. This research proposal will use 3 different diets: standard (200 ppm iron), iron deficient extreme (2-6 ppm iron), and iron deficient moderate (50 ppm iron). This proposal is intended to provide more clarity on iron deficiencies and how they can vary. My research will offer further detail on how iron deficient diets can alter physical fitness levels.

Introduction As obesity rates in our society continue to rise, so

does the importance of nutrition and physical fitness. In the past, there has been a focus on the amounts of macronutrients that are being taken into the body.

Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals, and are required in small amounts, but are key to development, disease preventions, and overall welfare (CDC 2014).

In this proposal, the micronutrient of focus will be iron. Iron’s number one role is involved in the transport of oxygen from the lungs to the tissues (Maughan 1999). Iron plays a key role in cellular, muscular and cardiac metabolism, and is essential to all living organisms.

My research will try to determine if iron deficiencies alter physical fitness levels in CD-1 female mice, in regards to iron deficient specific diets and aerobic fitness test.

Research Design

Review of Literature cont…

Expected Results

AcknowledgementsI wanted to thank Dr. Kaltreider for helping me get on track with Senior thesis process. I really want to thank Dr. Rehnberg for his patience and belief in me getting the work done. Thank you

HypothesisAs dietary iron concentrations decrease, so will overall aerobic athletic performance

Literature CitedCorti, M., Gaziano, M., & Hennekens, C. H. 1997. Iron status and risk of cardiovascular disease. Annals of Epidemiology, 7, 62-68. Fu, J., Yang, A., Ma, Y., Liu, M., Zhang, L., Wang, Y., & Liu, L. 2012. The effect of fetal and early postnatal iron deficiency on iron metabolism in adult rats. Biological Trace Element Research, 149(3), 412-418.Micronutrient Facts. Available from http://www.cdc.gov/immpact/micronutrients. Accessed 2015 February 16.Maughan, R. J. 1999. Role of micronutrients in sport and physical activity. British Medical Bulletin, 55, 683-690.Peeling, P., Dawson, B., Goodman, C., Landers, G., & Trinder, D. (2008). Athletic induced iron deficiency: New insights into the role of inflammation, cytokines and hormones. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 103(4), 381-391. doi:10.1007/s00421-008-0726-6

Standard Diet210 L glass tank(2 weeks, n=30)

(3 weeks old)

Iron Deficient(Moderate)

(n=10) Standard diet

(n=10)

Weight/hemaglobin concentrations taken

Weekly

Fitness test (once a week/90 days)

(16 weeks old)

Rotarod Running Wheel

Treadmill/O2 Concentration

Grip Strength Logger

Iron Deficient (Extreme)

(n=10)

Methods•First two weeks•All mice fed the same standard diet

•Week 3•Mice will begin their specific diets• Iron Deficient (Moderate) (50ppm)• Iron Deficient (Extreme) (2-6ppm)•Standard diet (200 ppm)

•Body weights and hemoglobin concentrations will be taken on a weekly basis •Blood taken through Saphenous vein (<0.5% of animals body weight)

•Stanbio Stat-site MHGB Hemoglobin Meter•Single drop of blood, and the meter provides precise hemoglobin analysis•Provides a direct reading of hemoglobin concentration in whole blood between 6 -21 g/dL

•Testing Occurs (Between days 20-90)•This time will have represented most of their adolescent life

Iron in excess• Hemochromatosis- overload of iron in the body• Thalassemia- genetic modification that produces

abnormal forms of hemoglobin, resulting in excessive destruction of red blood cells

• Parenchymal damage to the liver, heart, and other vital organs

Iron in athletes• Falling circulating hemoglobin concentration are

correlated with a reduction in oxygen carrying capacity and a decrease in physical fitness (Maughan 1999)

• The less oxygen carried to muscles, the less work those muscles can perform

Iron regulatory hormone, hepcidin may impact the iron status in athletes • This hormone is inflammatory driven and inflammation is

common in athletes (Peeling et al. 2008)• Controls the amount of iron that circulates through the

body

Same data recorded

Review of Literature Iron deficiencies• Lack of iron intake through diet.• Can be a result of iron loss during training

through hemolysis, hematuria, sweating, and gastrointestinal bleeding (Peeling et al. 2008)

• Decrease in hemoglobin concentration and its association with carrying oxygen to working skeletal muscle (Peeling et al. 2008)

0 20 40 60 80 10050

60

70

80

90

100

110

Diet vs Physical Fitness

Days

Phy

sica

l Fitn

ess

Standard Diet

Iron Deficient (Moderate)

Iron Deficient(Extreme)

Figure 1. Individuals that experience iron deficiency can have impaired skeletal muscle function because iron deficiency induces abnormal muscle metabolism that lead to increased lactic acidosis (Corti et al. 1997). As oxygen concentrations decrease, lactic acid concentrations in the muscles increases.

Do iron deficiencies alter physical fitness levels in CD-1 female mice?Asa Smith, Department of Biology, York College

Project summaryThis proposal will focus on determining if iron deficiencies alter physical fitness levels in CD-1 female mice. Iron is beneficial as part of hemoglobin, where it transports oxygen through the blood to essential organs and muscles. Iron deficiencies have been seen to reduce the amount of hemoglobin recorded in athletes. This research proposal will use 3 different diets: standard (200 ppm iron), iron deficient extreme (2-6 ppm iron), and iron deficient moderate (50 ppm iron). This proposal is intended to provide more clarity on iron deficiencies and how they can vary. My research will offer further detail on how iron deficient diets can alter physical fitness levels.

Introduction As obesity rates in our society continue to rise, so

does the importance of nutrition and physical fitness. In the past, there has been a focus on the amounts of macronutrients that are being taken into the body.

Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals, and are required in small amounts, but are key to development, disease preventions, and overall welfare (CDC 2014).

In this proposal, the micronutrient of focus will be iron. Iron’s number one role is involved in the transport of oxygen from the lungs to the tissues (Maughan 1999). Iron plays a key role in cellular, muscular and cardiac metabolism, and is essential to all living organisms.

My research will try to determine if iron deficiencies alter physical fitness levels in CD-1 female mice, in regards to iron deficient specific diets and aerobic fitness test.

Research Design

Review of Literature cont…

Expected Results

AcknowledgementsI wanted to thank Dr. Kaltreider for helping me get on track with Senior thesis process. I really want to thank Dr. Rehnberg for his patience and belief in me getting the work done. Thank you

HypothesisAs dietary iron concentrations decrease, so will overall aerobic athletic performance

Literature CitedCorti, M., Gaziano, M., & Hennekens, C. H. 1997. Iron status and risk of cardiovascular disease. Annals of Epidemiology, 7, 62-68. Fu, J., Yang, A., Ma, Y., Liu, M., Zhang, L., Wang, Y., & Liu, L. 2012. The effect of fetal and early postnatal iron deficiency on iron metabolism in adult rats. Biological Trace Element Research, 149(3), 412-418.Micronutrient Facts. Available from http://www.cdc.gov/immpact/micronutrients. Accessed 2015 February 16.Maughan, R. J. 1999. Role of micronutrients in sport and physical activity. British Medical Bulletin, 55, 683-690.Peeling, P., Dawson, B., Goodman, C., Landers, G., & Trinder, D. (2008). Athletic induced iron deficiency: New insights into the role of inflammation, cytokines and hormones. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 103(4), 381-391. doi:10.1007/s00421-008-0726-6

Standard Diet210 L glass tank(2 weeks, n=30)

(3 weeks old)

Iron Deficient(Moderate)

(n=10) Standard diet

(n=10)

Weight/hemaglobin concentrations taken

Weekly

Fitness test (once a week/90 days)

(16 weeks old)

Rotarod Running Wheel

Treadmill/O2 Concentration

Grip Strength Logger

Iron Deficient (Extreme)

(n=10)

Methods•First two weeks•All mice fed the same standard diet

•Week 3•Mice will begin their specific diets• Iron Deficient (Moderate) (50ppm)• Iron Deficient (Extreme) (2-6ppm)•Standard diet (200 ppm)

•Body weights and hemoglobin concentrations will be taken on a weekly basis •Blood taken through Saphenous vein (<0.5% of animals body weight)

•Stanbio Stat-site MHGB Hemoglobin Meter•Single drop of blood, and the meter provides precise hemoglobin analysis•Provides a direct reading of hemoglobin concentration in whole blood between 6 -21 g/dL

•Testing Occurs (Between days 20-90)•This time will have represented most of their adolescent life

Iron in excess• Hemochromatosis- overload of iron in the body• Thalassemia- genetic modification that produces

abnormal forms of hemoglobin, resulting in excessive destruction of red blood cells

• Parenchymal damage to the liver, heart, and other vital organs

Iron in athletes• Falling circulating hemoglobin concentration are

correlated with a reduction in oxygen carrying capacity and a decrease in physical fitness (Maughan 1999)

• The less oxygen carried to muscles, the less work those muscles can perform

Iron regulatory hormone, hepcidin may impact the iron status in athletes • This hormone is inflammatory driven and inflammation is

common in athletes (Peeling et al. 2008)• Controls the amount of iron that circulates through the

body

Same data recorded

Iron deficiencies• Lack of iron intake through diet.• Can be a result of iron loss during training

through hemolysis, hematuria, sweating, and gastrointestinal bleeding (Peeling et al. 2008)

• Decrease in hemoglobin concentration and its association with carrying oxygen to working skeletal muscle (Peeling et al. 2008)

Review of Literature

Figure 1. Individuals that experience iron deficiency can have impaired skeletal muscle function because iron deficiency induces abnormal muscle metabolism that lead to increased lactic acidosis (Corti et al. 1997). As oxygen concentrations decrease, lactic acid concentrations in the muscles increases.