Background: Considering the importance of iron and the role of oxidative stress in its toxicity, the purpose of this study was to compare the effect of nano iron-oxide on oxidative stress indices and lipid profile in serum and liver of rats.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 15 rats were allocated into 3 groups the control and the other two groups were interaperitoneally received either nano or conventional iron-oxide (8mg/kg) daily for 15 days. The amount of malondialdehyde (MDA), antioxidant activity (AOA), triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol in serum and liver carbonyl protein and total lipid in liver and LDL, VLDL and HDL in serum of rats were determined.

Results: Liver AOA was significantly increased by nano and conventional iron-oxide (P=0.02). MDA in serum was significantly decreased (P=0.001), but in liver increased (P=0.04) in the group received nano iron-oxide compared with the other two groups. Moreover, carbonyl protein was significantly increased by nano and conventional iron-oxide (P=0.05). TG and VLDL levels were decreased but LDL was increased by nano and conventional iron-oxide (P=0.02).

Conclusion: According to the results of the study, nano iron-oxide can increase oxidative stress in liver and induce arthrosclerosis.