Iron Absorption From Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements

Launched by PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER · Mar 5, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at how well children absorb iron from special nutrient supplements that are based on healthy fats. The study will involve children aged 1 to 3 years from rural communities in Kwale County, Kenya. It will include two groups: one group of apparently healthy children and another group of children who are undernourished. A total of 30 children will participate, with 15 in each group. They will receive a supplement that contains a special form of iron, and after 14 days, the researchers will take a blood sample to see how much iron the children’s bodies absorbed.

To be eligible for this study, children must be between 1 and 3 years old and have a hemoglobin level between 8 and 11 g/dL. They can either be undernourished or apparently healthy based on their height and weight measurements. However, children with severe malnutrition, certain serious health conditions, allergies to peanuts, or plans to move away during the study will not be able to participate. If eligible, parents can expect to visit the hospital twice: once to receive the supplement and again two weeks later for the blood test. This research aims to improve our understanding of how these nutrient supplements can help address iron needs in young children.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Children age 1-3 years on day of screening visit
• • Hemoglobin 8-11 g/dL on day of screening visit
• • Undernourished \[length/height-for-age z-score (HAZ), weight-for-age z-score (WAZ), and/or weight-for-height/length z-score (WHZ) \< -2\] OR apparently healthy (HAZ, WAZ, and/or WHZ ≥ -1)
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Severe acute malnutrition (WHZ \< -3) with no appetite
• • Serious medical condition or other chronic disease besides undernutrition (e.g., HIV+, severe pneumonia, malaria)
• • Peanut allergy or other allergy that prevents consumption of the LNS
• • Plans to move away from the study location during the study period