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Strategies to Reduce Iron Deficiency

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Iron Deficiency
Interventions
Other: Letter Group- Information Provided
Dietary Supplement: Placebo
Dietary Supplement: Ferrous gluconate- 19 mg
Dietary Supplement: Ferrous gluconate- 38 mg
Other: Letter - No Information Provided
Registration Number
NCT02245321
Lead Sponsor
Westat
Brief Summary

The prevalence of iron deficiency in blood donors has been demonstrated to be a direct consequence of repeat blood donations. Given the adverse effects of iron deficiency, it is priority to implement programs to remediate iron deficiency issues associated with blood donations. To explore this issue, the study's aims to:

1. Determine whether regular blood donors provided with accurate information about their iron status and written recommended courses of action will take steps to prevent/mitigate iron deficiency on their own without being given iron supplements by the blood center; and

2. Determine if two different amounts of iron provided by the blood center will prevent/mitigate iron deficiency in regular blood donors.

To conduct this randomized, placebo controlled study, participant donors will be assigned to one of two arms and followed for a 24 month period. Each subject will provide additional blood samples of 7 ml and 4.5 ml at each study visit for the purpose of tracking hemoglobin (Hgb), ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), and hematology laboratory results.

Under the two study arms, subjects are to be randomized into one of the following five blinded categories:

* Receive a thank you letter after each blood donation.

* Receive a letter informing them of their ferritin result at each visit, along with recommendations for blood donation.

* Receive pills to take daily that contain no iron (a placebo or inert pill).

* Receive pills to take daily that contain 19 mg of iron (the typical amount in a multivitamin with iron).

* Receive pills to take daily that contain 38 mg iron (the typical amount in an over-the-counter iron supplement).

Detailed Description

Inclusion Criteria

* Donors who have donated whole blood or double red cells ≥ 2 times in the last 12 months if female, or, ≥ 3 times in the last 12 months if male.

* Commitment to meet the donation frequency requirement for the study for two more years, give a blood sample at each visit, and complete baseline and follow-up surveys.

Exclusion Criteria

* Subjects \< 18 years of age.

* Subjects taking iron supplements (including multivitamins with iron) up to one month prior to enrollment.

* Females who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant in the following 2 years.

* Subjects unwilling to meet the requirements of the study.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
702
Inclusion Criteria
  • Repeat donors who have previously participated in RISE study and have continued to donate at a required frequency (donated whole blood or double red cells ≥ 2 times in the last 12 months if female, or, ≥ 3 times in the last 12 months if male)
  • Non-RISE donors who have donated whole blood or double red cells ≥ 2 times in the last 12 months if female, or, ≥ 3 times in the last 12 months if male
  • commitment to meet the donation frequency requirement for this study for two more years, give a blood sample at each visit, and complete baseline and follow-up surveys
Exclusion Criteria
  • subjects < 18 years of age
  • subjects taking iron supplements (including multivitamins with iron) up to one month prior to enrollment
  • females who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant in the following 2 years
  • subjects unwilling to meet the requirements of the study

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Letter Group- Information ProvidedLetter Group- Information ProvidedReceive a letter informing them of their ferritin result at each visit, along with recommendations for blood donation.
Ferrous gluconate- 0 mgPlaceboReceive pills to take daily that contain no iron (a placebo or inert pill).
Ferrous gluconate- 19 mgFerrous gluconate- 19 mgReceive pills to take daily that contain 19 mg of iron (the typical amount in a multivitamin with iron).
Ferrous gluconate- 38 mgFerrous gluconate- 38 mgReceive pills to take daily that contain 38 mg iron (the typical amount in an over-the-counter iron supplement).
Letter Group- No informationLetter - No Information ProvidedReceive a thank you letter after each blood donation.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Hemoglobin (HgB)Change from baseline in HgB over 2 years

a protein responsible for transporting oxygen in the blood

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
FerritinChange from baseline in ferritin over 2 years

a protein that stores iron and releases it when your body needs it

Soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR)Change from baseline in sTfR over 2 years

a protein receptor that is used as a measure of functional iron status and the investigation of iron deficiency anemia

Laboratory Hematology resultsChange from baseline in Laboratory hematology results over 2 years.

Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, Mean Corpuscular Value (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH)

Trial Locations

Locations (4)

BloodCenter of Wisconsin

🇺🇸

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States

Westat

🇺🇸

Rockville, Maryland, United States

American Red Cross, Connecticut Region

🇺🇸

Farmington, Connecticut, United States

The Institute for Transfusion Medicince

🇺🇸

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

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