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Meals to Improve Absorption of Iron Supplements

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Iron Deficiency Anemia
Iron-deficiency
Iron Deficiency Anemia Treatment
Interventions
Other: Iron supplement with a lunch meal containing beef
Other: Iron supplement with a lunch meal containing plant-based alternative
Registration Number
NCT04793906
Lead Sponsor
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Brief Summary

One of the targeted objectives of Healthy People 2020 is to reduce iron deficiency among women of reproductive age (WRA). Consuming foods rich in iron and/or oral iron supplementation is typically recommended to improve iron status; however, global rates of iron deficiency remain high. Thus, nutritional strategies to improve/maintain iron status are warranted. Dietary iron is found in two different forms: heme and non-heme iron. Non-heme iron is found in plant-based sources and is commonly used as a supplement and food fortificant. Absorption of non-heme iron is low compared to heme iron, which is found in animal sources, such as beef. Studies have also demonstrated that beef contains an unidentified factor that stimulates the absorption of non-heme iron. The primary objective of the proposed study is to determine the effects of incorporating daily meals containing beef or plant-based alternative with or without an iron supplement on indicators of iron status in iron-deficient WRA.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
59
Inclusion Criteria
  • Body mass index (BMI) falls within the normal weight or overweight range (18.5-29.9 kg/m^2)
  • Low iron stores (serum ferritin <25 μg/L)
  • Willing to refrain from smoking and >2 alcoholic drinks/week for the duration of the study period
  • Willing to refrain from vitamin and mineral supplementation for the duration of the study
Exclusion Criteria
  • Currently smoking or vaping
  • Currently taking a medication that interferes with micronutrient metabolism
  • Unwilling to refrain from vitamin and mineral supplementation for the duration of the study
  • Restrictive diets (i.e., vegan or vegetarian diets)
  • Metabolic or cardiovascular abnormalities (e.g., kidney disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, etc.)
  • History of any disease or abnormality of the gastrointestinal tract including, but not limited to, diverticulosis, diverticulitis and inflammatory bowel disease, peptic ulcer disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis; or previous gastrointestinal surgery
  • Blood donation within 4 months of beginning the study
  • Abnormal blood clotting

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
BeefIron supplement with a lunch meal containing beef-
Plant-based alternativeIron supplement with a lunch meal containing plant-based alternative-
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Iron statusChange from day 0 and day 56

Plasma ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor, transferrin saturation, hemoglobin and hematocrit will be measured to determine iron status. Changes in measures of iron status during the intervention will be compared between groups.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Profile of Mood States (POMS)Change from day 0 and day 56

The POMS questionnaire will be used to assess the overall mood state of the participants. Changes in the POMS during the intervention will be compared between groups.

AppetiteChange from day 0 and day 56

Subjective appetite and satiety will be assessed before and after the lunch meal using visual analog scales.

Plasma vitamin B-12Change from day 0 and day 56

Changes in the plasma vitamin B-12 during the intervention will be compared between groups.

WeightChange from day 0 and day 56

Changes in body weight during the intervention will be compared between groups.

Blood pressureChange from day 0 and day 56

Changes in blood pressure during the intervention will be compared between groups.

Metabolic biomarkersChange from day 0 and day 56

Changes in blood lipids, glucose, and insulin during the intervention will be compared between groups.

Plasma cholineChange from day 0 and day 56

Changes in the plasma choline during the intervention will be compared between groups.

Body compositionChange from day 0 and day 56

Body composition (fat mass, fat-free mass, and total body water content) will be determined using single frequency bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS). Changes in body composition during the intervention will be compared between groups.

Plasma zincChange from day 0 and day 56

Changes in the plasma zinc during the intervention will be compared between groups.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Pennington Biomedical Research Center

🇺🇸

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States

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