Effect of Iron Deficiency on the Capacity for Peroxisomal and Mitochondrial $\beta$-oxidation

In order to determine the effect of iron depletion and subsequent supplementation on the muscle capacity for peroxisomal (PO) and mitochondrial(MO) $\beta$-oxidation during high fat feeding, weanling rats were fed a 44% (HF) or 2.5% (LF) fat diet with (+Fe) or without (-Fe) iron for 6 or 9 weeks. After 1 week rats fed HF+Fe or HF-Fe had 50-100% more PO and MO in heart, soleus, psoas and gastrocnemius than did rats fed low fat, but after 3 weeks rats fed HF-Fe had lower muscle PO and MO. In muscles of iron depleted rats PO and MO were not increased by supplementation with iron for 3 weeks. After 6 weeks MO and PO in skeletal muscles of rats fed HF+Fe were lower than after 3 weeks. It is concluded that adequate iron is necessary for miaximum response of muscle PO and MO to high fat feeding. However, after 6 weeks both PO and MO have returned to levels similar to those of rats fed low fat diets, hence, the elevated catalase activities seen at this time do not reflect peroxisomal $\beta$-oxidation.