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Effect of Vitamin C on Iron Absorption

Information source: Baylor College of Medicine
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this data on August 20, 2015
Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record.

Condition(s) targeted: Iron Deficiency

Intervention: Vitamin C (Dietary Supplement)

Phase: N/A

Status: Completed

Sponsored by: Baylor College of Medicine

Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s):
Steven A Abrams, MD, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine

Summary

Iron deficiency is a common health problem worldwide. Ferrous fumarate (a form of iron) is often added to foods in an effort to prevent iron deficiency. Vitamin C can improve the amount of iron that the body absorbs, therefore it is often added to foods too. However, we don't know if vitamin C really increases the absorption of iron from ferrous fumarate. This study will measure the iron absorption in children from a meal containing some ferrous fumarate with and without vitamin C. The study will include 4 visits to the Children's Nutrition Research Center in Houston, TX.

Clinical Details

Official title: Effect of Ascorbic Acid on Iron Absorption From Ferrous Fumarate

Study design: Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Bio-availability Study, Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator), Primary Purpose: Basic Science

Primary outcome: Clarify the effect, if any, of ascorbic acid on ferrous fumarate absorption

Detailed description: This study involves four outpatient visits. Two test meals will be given (during visits 2 and 3) and two blood draws will be done (visits 3 and 4). A 2-3 hour fast prior to the visit is required. Therefore, subjects may come in first thing in the morning (for breakfast meal), at lunch, or in the afternoon (snack). Subjects may be scheduled to come in during the week or on weekends; however, each individual subject will need to return at the same time of day for each subsequent visit. Visit procedures are described below. Visit 1: Subjects will be admitted to the GCRC as an outpatient after a 2-3h fast and given a reference dose of 1mg iron-58 sulfate as an aqueous solution with 50mg ascorbic acid. They will be observed for 2h after this dose and water will be freely available. No food will be allowed. After 2h subjects will be discharged home and food allowed. Visit 2: One to 10 days later subjects will be again admitted as an outpatient after a 2-3h fast. They will consume a meal of a bread muffin labelled with 4mg of iron-57 as ferrous fumarate, and a glass of apple juice containing 0 or 25mg ascorbic acid. The order of ascorbic acid supplementation or non-supplementation will be decided by random. No food will be allowed after the meal. After 2h subjects will be discharged home and food allowed. Visit 3: Two weeks (+/- 3 days) later they will be readmitted after a 2-3h fast and the second visit repeated. During this admission the apple juice will contain either 0 or 25mg ascorbic acid, the opposite of what was given to the subject in visit 2. Immediately prior to administration of the second test meal, 10mL blood will be drawn for measurement of iron nutritional parameters (e. g. CBC, serum ferritin) and iron isotope ratio measurement. Incorporation of iron-57 will be used to calculate iron absorption from the test meal given during visit 2, and incorporation of iron-58 used to measure absorption from the reference dose (a measure of iron status). No food will be allowed after the meal and blood draw. After 2h subjects will be discharged home and food allowed. Visit 4: Two weeks (+/- 3 days) later subjects will be admitted for a 10mL blood draw as described above. Incorporation of iron-57 will reflect the absorption of ferrous fumarate from the test meal given during visit 3.

Eligibility

Minimum age: 4 Years. Maximum age: 8 Years. Gender(s): Both.

Criteria:

Inclusion Criteria:

- Healthy children

- 4-8. 0y of age

- No chronic medical problems

- Not on regular medications

- Subjects on vitamin or mineral supplementation will be eligible as long as they

discontinue the supplements two weeks prior to the first visit, until the end of the fourth visit. Exclusion Criteria:

- Chronic medical problems that interfere with nutrient absorption

- History of prematurity (<37 wks gestational age)

- History of birth weight <2500g

- Current height-for-age or weight-for-age below the 5th centile or above the 95th

centile

Locations and Contacts

Children's Nutrition Research Center, Houston, Texas 77057, United States
Additional Information

Children's Nutrition Research Center

Starting date: January 2008
Last updated: June 3, 2008

Page last updated: August 20, 2015

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