Fe(III) and Cr(III) are transported by the same protein – transferrin, and they may have competitive effect on the absorption and transport to tissues. However, this effect may depend on relative proportions of these elements in a diet or in a body. As the status of iron and magnesium is disrupted in diabetes, the use of Cr(III) to support the treatment of this disease may further affect the content of these elements in the body. The aim of the study was to investigate the combined effect of diversified Fe(III) supply in a diet and simultaneous Cr(III) supplementation on the Mg status in rats.The assessment was based on a two-factor (2x3) experiment conducted on 54 female Wistar rats. The animals were randomly divided into 9 groups and for six weeks they were fed semi-purified diets (AIN-93) with different Fe(III) content: deficient –  5 mg kg-1 (10% RDA), recommended – 45 mg kg-1 (100% RDA) and high – 180 mg kg-1 (400% RDA), which was factor A. The diets were supplemented with Cr(III) at doses of 1, 50 and 500 mg kg-1 of the diet, which served as factor B. Iron(III) citrate was the source of Fe(III). Cr(III) was supplied in a complex of Cr(III) with propionic acid (Cr3). The Mg content in the liver, kidneys, spleen, heart and femur was analysed by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The Fe(III) deficit in the diet (10% RDA) increased the Mg content in the liver, kidneys and heart. The high Fe(III) supply (400% RDA) increased Mg saturation in the femur, as compared with the Fe(III) control group, i.e. 45 mg kg-1 of the diet. Regardless of the Fe(III) supply, Cr(III) supplementation decreased the Mg content in the liver, kidneys and spleen, but increased it in the heart. The research proved that the diversified Fe(III) content in the diet, individually and in combination with Cr(III) supplementation, affected the Mg status in healthy rats.

23.2.2018