Dietary iron deficiency decreases serum osteocalcin concentration and bone mineral density in rats.

We investigated the effects of dietary iron deficiency on bone metabolism by measuring markers of bone turnover in rats. Twelve 3-week-old male Wistar-strain rats were fed a control diet or an iron-deficient diet for 4 weeks. Dietary iron deficiency decreased hemoglobin concentration and increased heart weight. Serum osteocalcin concentration, bone mineral content, bone mineral density, and mechanical strength of the femur were significantly lower in the iron-deficient group than in the control group. These results suggested that dietary iron deficiency affected bone, which might have been due to a decrease in bone formation in rats.