Dietary goat milk improves iron bioavailability in rats with induced ferropenic anaemia in comparison with cow milk

Using rats with induced iron (Fe)-deficiency anaemia, this study investigated the effects of diets based on goat milk (GM) or cow milk (CM) lyophilates on the nutritive utilization of Fe, its deposit in target organs and haematic parameters involved in Fe metabolism. GM improved Fe metabolism, especially in Fe-deficient rats, leading to a higher Fe content in the spleen, liver, sternum and femur in comparison with CM. After feeding the rats for 2 weeks with the different diets, the anaemia had decreased, especially with GM, as assessed by higher haemoglobin regeneration efficiency (HRE), serum Fe, red blood cells (RBC) and packed cellular volume (PCV) levels and lower platelet count. We conclude that dietary GM improves Fe bioavailability in both control and anaemic rats, increasing Fe deposits in target organs and favouring the recovery of haematological parameters after ferropenic nutritional anaemia.