Iron deficiency is a severe nutritional problem in the world. Coffee intake of the people is increasing every year and it can increase the loss of several essential body minerals including iron. Either iron deficiency or coffee intake may increase the oxidative stress of the body. However, the effect of iron deficiency and/or coffee intake on peroxidation have not been studied much. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of coffee intake on oxidative stress and antioxidative enzyme activities of iron-deficient rats. Forty-eight male rats of Sprague-Dawley strain were divided into two groups by dietary iron levels. Iron deficient group were fed 5 ppm iron diet and iron-sufficient group were fed 50 ppm iron diet. Each iron group were divided into three sub-groups by coffee levels (0%, 1%, 4%) included in the experimental diet. The experimental diets were fed for 4 weeks. The hemoglobin level was significantly low in iron deficient group and the level was exacerbated by high coffee intake. The malondialdehyde concentration of the plasma and liver were not affected by iron or coffee level in this study. However, plasma aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, the indicator of the liver damage, were increased by high coffee intake. The erythrocyte and liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were elevated in iron deficient groups. Coffee intake increased erythrocyte SOD activity in iron sufficient groups. Glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities were not influenced much by either iron or coffee intake. In conclusion, high coffee intake in iron deficiency may not only increase the anemia symptoms, but also may increase the oxidative stress of the body.(Korean J Nutrition 35(9) : 919~925, 2002)