Fe Absorption in Mother and Child Pairs From Wheat Fortified With Iron With and Without Phenolic Containing Beverages

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology34 enrolled

Overview

In Senegal, iron deficiency affects 39% of and 82% of women and children between 12 and 50 months indicating that iron deficiency is a major health problem. The government of Senegal has implemented a flour fortification program including iron and folate. Iron is a difficult mineral to add to foods efficiently due to its organoleptic properties and typical low bioavailability in man. The aim of this study is to determine iron absorption from fortified wheat flour consumed with a phenolic containing beverage in women and child pairs. The fortificants used will be Ferrous Fumarate and Ferrous Sulfate, and the effect of absorption inhibitors on the bioavailability from iron compounds not readily bioavailable is poorly investigated. The bioavailability of the different iron compounds will be determined using stable iron isotopes. Sixteen pairs of women and children (n=34, children between 3-6 years, women between 18-45y) will be selected for participation in the study. After a screening, each women and child will receive 4 test meals consisting of a bread roll fortified stable isotopes with and without the tisane beverage. The first two test meals will be consumed on consecutive days. Two weeks after the second test meal a blood sample will be taken from each women and child before the third meal administration. After the forth test meal administration, and again two weeks later, the last blood sampling will take place and the study will be conducted for the subjects (duration 30 days). The samples will be sent to Zurich on dry ice for analysis for the following parameters: isotopic composition, H pylori infection, B vitamin status, Vitamin A status. In all samples, hemoglobin and iron status as well as inflammation status (CRP) will be determined.

In this study each subject will act as his own control and receive all interventions. Iron absorption data from the different test meals will be therefore compared assessing within and subject effects (main outcomes). Secondary outcomes will also investigate between subject effects and co variates of iron absorption.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Interventions

Ferrous sulfate fortified bread with teaOTHER

Fasting subjects will be served a wheat roll fortified with labelled ferrous sulfate and stable isotopes

ferrous sulfate fortified bread with waterOTHER

Fasting subjects will be served a wheat roll fortified with labelled ferrous sulfate and stable isotopes

Ferrous fumarate fortified bread with teaOTHER

Fasting subjects will be served a wheat roll fortified with labelled Fe Fumarate and stable isotopes

Ferrous fumarate fortified bread with waterOTHER

Fasting subjects will be served a wheat roll fortified with labelled Fe Fumarate and stable isotopes

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 3 YearsMax age: 50 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria * Mother and child are willing to participate in the study jointly Specific inclusions criteria for mothers * Body weight \< 65 kg * 17 ≤ BMI ≤ 25 (kg/m2) * Non anemic (Hb ≥ 11,0 g/dl) * Generally healthy and no chronic illnesses * Non pregnant * Non lactating * No blood donation in the last 4 months * No consumption of vitamin and nutritional supplements during and 2 weeks prior the study start. Inclusion criteria for children: * Age 3-6 years * Generally healthy and no chronic illnesses * no consumption of vitamin and mineral supplements during and 2 weeks prior the study start

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Iron absorption measured as iron incorporation of stable isotopic labels in red blood cells 14 days after administration

The effect of the consumption of tea (phenolic containing beverages) will be assessed the two iron fortification compounds. The interaction between beverage and compound on iron absorption will be tested. The analysis will be separately conducted for mothers and children.

Time frame: Up to 8 Months after study start

Secondary Outcomes

Correlation between iron absorption in mother and child pairs

The correlation of iron absorption from the different test meals between in mother and child pairs will be assessed. A variable will be defined which will consist of the difference in iron absorption between each mother and child, within one mother child pair cluster. Determinants of this variable will be explored by linear regression, such as iron status, parity, age, gender, anthropometry, iron status, vitamin status (A, B2, B12, folate) h. pylori test and hepcidin.