Influence of isocitrate on erythropoiesis in vivo. Isocitrate (IC) inhibits anemia progression during iron deprivation. Peripheral red blood cell (RBC) number and hematocrit (HCT) in mice on iron-deficient diets. Treatment with isocitrate (dashed lines) versus either normal saline (NS) or α-ketoglutarate (αKG; solid lines) was initiated on days indicated by arrows. Each point represents mean ± SEM for 6 mice/group. **Experiment 1 day 54, isocitrate versus saline, P values are .007 and .001 for RBC number and HCT. ^##Experiment 2 day 45, isocitrate versus saline, P values are .015 and .018 for RBC number and HCT. †Comparison of isocitrate with α-ketoglutarate, day 56, P values are .044 and .046 for RBC number and HCT.