Effective use of tea to limit dietary iron available to starlings (Sturnus vulgaris)

J Zoo Wildl Med. 2003 Sep;34(3):314-6. doi: 10.1638/02-088.

Abstract

Wild-caught starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) were fed an iron-enriched diet, with or without supplemental black tea leaves, to determine whether tea-derived tannins would prevent intestinal iron absorption. Hepatic biopsies were obtained to determine hepatic iron concentrations by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Hepatic iron concentrations increased significantly (P = 0.04) in 21 birds that consumed only the iron-enriched diet for 6 mo but not in the 20 birds that consumed the iron-enriched diet with tea leaf supplementation for the same time period.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Wild
  • Biological Availability
  • Bird Diseases / prevention & control
  • Hemosiderosis / prevention & control
  • Hemosiderosis / veterinary
  • Intestinal Absorption / drug effects
  • Iron, Dietary / pharmacokinetics*
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver / pathology
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry
  • Random Allocation
  • Songbirds / metabolism*
  • Tannins / adverse effects*
  • Tea / chemistry*

Substances

  • Iron, Dietary
  • Tannins
  • Tea