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Ferrous Sulfate Versus Iron Amino Acid Chelate

Phase 3
Completed
Conditions
Iron Deficiency
Interventions
Other: Ferrous sulfate as dietary supplementation
Other: Iron amino acid chelated as dietary supplementation
Registration Number
NCT01412723
Lead Sponsor
CES University
Brief Summary

Iron deficiency and depleted levels of iron are the most prevalent nutritional deficiency and the leading cause of anemia in the world; this can occur at any age, but preschool children are at particular risk of developing it. This condition may cause serious repercussions for life, being a public health threat of considerable importance worldwide.

Food fortification is considered the most effective solution to counter this situation, because it can help more people than other solutions. It is going to carry out a community trial to compare the efficacy of ferrous sulfate with respect to iron amino acid chelate as a dietary supplement in preschool children of Medellin with depleted levels of iron; in terms of increasing ferritin levels in blood and maintain hemoglobin levels. It is hypothesized that at the end of the study the effect of milk fortified with iron amino acid chelate won't be less than the effect of fortified with ferrous sulfate.

It is hoped that the results may contribute, albeit indirectly, to improve the health status of children with depleted levels of iron whom consume iron-fortified products.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
64
Inclusion Criteria

Children who

  • Belong to institute FAN in Medellín
  • Attend full time to institute FAN (eight hours)
  • Have 2 to 5 years inclusive
  • Submit depleted levels of iron (ferritin level equal to or less than 24 mg/L)
Exclusion Criteria

Children who

  • Submit anemia (hemoglobin level equal to or less than 11 g/dL)
  • Have not stool analysis before intervention

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Ferrous sulphateFerrous sulfate as dietary supplementationPreschool children with depleted levels of iron enrolled in FAN Foundation of Medellin, which will be supplied with ferrous sulfate-fortified milk
Iron Amino acid chelateIron amino acid chelated as dietary supplementationPreschool children with depleted levels of iron enrolled in FAN Foundation of Medellin , which will be supplied with iron amino acid chelate-fortified milk
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
FerritinUp to 8 weeks

The Ferritin level in blood will be measured at the beginning of the study as one of the most important inclusion criteria. This also will be the base line of the study. After that randomization will be carried out and after two months (time frame which ferrous sulfate or iron aminoacid chelate would increase ferritin level in blood) ferritin level will be measured again as the primary outcome measure.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
HemoglobinUp to 8 weeks

The Hemoglobin level in blood will be measured at the beginning of the study as one of the most important exclusion criteria. After that randomization will be carried out and after two months (time frame which ferrous sulfate or iron aminoacid chelate would increase ferritin level in blood) hemoglobin level will be measured again as one of secundary outcome measure. The hypothesis is that the hemoglobin level won't decrease

InfectionDaily. During 2 months of intervention

Daily written report of the caregiver during the intervention

Adverse reactionDaily. During 2 months of intervention

The caregiver recorded daily if the child had an adverse reaction such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, darkening of feces, and disgust for food.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Universidad CES

🇨🇴

Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia

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