Open Access Research
Impact of micronutrient overload on histopathological features of the liver in female mice
Aisha Alamari Heseen Elhatimi1,*, Malak Omran Dekhel2, Ismail Masaud Hdud3, Yaman Walid Kassab4
, Marwah Younus Fadhil5
1Department of Medical Laboratories, Higher Institute of Science and Technology, Souk Al Khamis Amsihal, Tripoli – Libya
2Faculty of Technology for Medical Sciences, Al-Awata, Tripoli, Libya
3College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tripoli, Libya
4Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, National University of science and technology, Muscat, Oman
5College of pharmacy, Al-Bayan University, Baghdad, Iraq
*Corresponding author: Aisha Alamari Heseen Elhatimi, Libyan Academy for Postgraduate Studies, Tripoli, Libya; Tel.: 218926569940; e-mail: aishaelhatimi@gmail.com
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Published: 2026 ; https://doi.org/10.61873/
Abstract
Background: Iron supplementation is widely used to prevent and treat iron deficiency anemia, particularly among women of reproductive age. However, excessive iron intake may result in hepatic iron accumulation and tissue injury. Although folic acid is frequently co-administered with iron, its influence on iron overload-induced liver alterations remains incompletely understood. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of iron overload and the co-administration of folic acid at two dose levels on relative liver weight and histopathological changes in the liver of female mice. Methodology: Twenty-four adult female mice were randomly allocated into four groups (n=6 per group): control, Fe (15 mg/kg), Fe + FA (8 mg/kg), and Fe + FA (4 mg/kg). Iron was administered intraperitoneally on alternate days, whereas folic acid was administered orally for one week. At the end of the experimental period, relative liver weight was determined, and liver tissues were processed for histopathological examination using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Statistical significance was established at p<0.05. Results: Iron overload significantly affected relative liver weight compared with the control group (insert quantitative data). Histopathological examination demonstrated hepatocellular degeneration, sinusoidal dilatation, vascular congestion, and inflammatory cell infiltration in iron-treated mice. Co-administration of folic acid modified the severity of these hepatic alterations, with significant differences observed between the experimental groups (insert histopathological scores and p values). Conclusion: Iron overload induced significant structural alterations in the liver of female mice. Concurrent folic acid administration influenced the extent of these hepatic changes. These findings provide experimental evidence of hepatic responses to micronutrient overload and highlight the importance of appropriate iron supplementation strategies while warranting further mechanistic investigations.
Keywords: iron overload, folic acid, liver, histopathology, female mice
Please cite as: Elhatimi A. A. H., Dekhel M. O., Hdud I. M., Kassab Y. W., Fadhil M. Y.: Impact of micronutrient overload on histopathological features of the liver in female mice. Epitheorese Klin. Farmakol. Farmakokinet. xx(xx): xx-xx (2026). DOI: 10.61873/XXXXXXX
pISSN 1011-6575 • eISSN 2945-1914