The results of qRT-PCR showed that iron supplementation significantly increased the expression of genes involved in the heme synthesis pathway, such as hydroxymethylbilane synthase (Hmbs) and farnesyltransferase cytochrome c oxidase assembly factor 10 (Cox10) in the liver and skeletal muscle compared with HF-fed mice (Fig. 7a,c). This evidence concerns the gene COX10 and hydrops fetalis.