Iron & Alginate Study

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA · Feb 7, 2012

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This study is a randomised, single blinded, cross-over trial with participants randomly allocated into two groups: A (n= 8 volunteers) and B (n=8 volunteers). The study will include a total of four arms.

By administration of test meals #1 (iron in alginate beads) and #4 (iron in a capsule) the possible protective effect of alginate on iron absorption will be investigated. By administration of test meal #2 (iron in alginate beads + calcium capsule)and #3 (iron in a capsule + calcium in a capsule)the study will investigate whether alginates can bind calcium (a well-known iron inhibitor) in v...

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Apparently healthy women (aged 18-45) or male blood donors (aged 18-65)
• • Serum ferritin value of ≥15 ≤ 60µg/L
• • BMI \>18.5 or \< 30
• • Willingness to consume jelly prepared with the use of gelatine from an animal source.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Diagnosed with a long-term illness requiring active treatment, e.g. diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease
• • Currently smoking or stopped smoking in the last 12 months
• • Previous or current GI disease
• • Any significant co-morbidity
• • Previous GI surgery
• • Blood donation within the previous 3 months assuming that volume taken is above 500ml in a 4-month period
• • Blood transfusion within the last 3 months
• • The results of the screening tests indicate unsuitability to take part in the study
• • Related to someone in the study team i.e. spouse, partner or immediate family member
• • Regular prescribed medication that may interfere with iron metabolism
• • Regular use of antacids and laxatives (at least once a week)
• • Women who are pregnant or less than 12 months since giving birth
• • Women who are breast feeding
• • Vitamin supplements with or without minerals if taken more than once a week, and unwillingness to discontinue occasional use for the duration of study
• • Unwillingness to discontinue use of herbal supplements for the duration of study
• • Unwillingness to consume jelly prepared with animal source gelatine
• • Use of antibiotics within four weeks prior to study start Parallel participation in another study which involves dietary interventions or sampling of blood that may increase the volume taken above 500ml in a 4-month period
• • Asthma requiring treatment within the last two years
• • Results of clinical screening which indicate a health problem which could compromise the well-being of the volunteer if they participated or which would affect the study data.