Ejiao peptide-iron chelates regulate the metabolism of iron deficiency anemia mice and improve the bioavailability of iron

Colla Corii Asini (Ejiao) peptide-iron (EPI) chelates formed during digestion have been revealed as potential hematopoietic components. However, it remains unclear how EPI regulates endogenous metabolism in vivo. Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) mice were gavaged with EPI chelates in a gradient dosage, while Ejiao hydrolysate-iron (EJI) chelates and FeSO4 were used as positive controls. The effect of EPI on hematopoietic recovery was evaluated. For the plasma untargeted metabolomic analysis, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were applied to identify metabolites in the samples. EPI significantly increased the levels of hemogram in IDA mice in a dose-dependent manner. The relative iron bioavailability in EPI was 123.45% of that in FeSO4 in vivo. After high dose of EPI (EPI-H) supplementation, the levels of 22 potential metabolic markers in the IDA group returned to normal, including sphingomyelin and arachidonic acid. EPI-H affected endogenous metabolites by regulating the metabolism of energy, lipids, and amino acids, promoted hematopoiesis, regulated metabolic pathways, and improved iron homeostasis. It's a comprehensive nutritional intervention of IDA by EPI supplementation.