Chitosan Iron(III) Reduces Phosphorus Levels in Alloxan Diabetes‐Induced Rats with Signs of Renal Failure Development

Abstract: This study evaluates the effect of complex cross‐linked chitosan iron‐(III) (CH‐FeCL) polymer as phosphate binder in renal failure induced by alloxan (150 mg/kg, i.p.) in rats. The animals (male and female) were divided into four groups and received the treatment once a day for 15 days: (i) control group, which received a single injection of saline (3 ml/kg, i.p.) and normal diet; (ii) alloxan group, which received only a dose of alloxan and normal diet; (iii) phosphate (PO4) group, which received diet supplemented with phosphate 1.2%; and (iv) CH‐FeCL group, which received diet supplemented with phosphate 1.2% + CH‐FeCL 0.5% (0.054% Fe elemental). It was observed that the CH‐FeCL treatment did not alter body‐weight, relative weight of the organs and haematological parameters in the treated and control groups for both sexes. However, a decrease in serum phosphorus level of the CH‐FeCL group was observed after 15 days, compared with the phosphate group in both sexes. The serum iron concentration of the CH‐FeCL group did not differ from the control group in either sex. CH‐FeCL polymer decreases intestinal phosphate absorption in rats with renal failure and is promising for the treatment of phosphate retention in patients with renal failure.