Is Iron Deficiency the Cause of Anemia Among Women in Cambodia?

Background: Anemia is a severe public health problem in Cambodia, affecting \~44% of women of reproductive age. Defined as a hemoglobin (Hb) concentration below 120 g/L, anemia can increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and impair work capacity and productivity. The potential causes of anemia are poor nutrition (e.g. micronutrient deficiencies), genetic Hb disorders (e.g. thalassemia), and inflammation and disease. Globally, the most common cause of anemia is thought to be iron deficiency anemia (IDA). This was assumed to be the major cause of anemia in Cambodia, because Cambodian diets, which consist mainly of rice, lack iron-rich animal food sources. However, our findings from a previous study in Cambodia (a Canadian government funded study investigating multiple interventions to improve food and nutrition security) showed that IDA is almost non-existent and challenges this assumption. In a cross-sectional survey of 450 women from rural Cambodia, only 1.0% had Hb and ferritin levels indicative of IDA (Hb \<120 g/L and ferritin \<15 μg/L). A national survey conducted by UNICEF in 2014 found similarly low rates of IDA (Dr. Arnaud Laillou, UNICEF Cambodia). Further, other micronutrients known to be associated with anemia were also low (\<3%) including folate and vitamins B12 and B6. On the other hand, other nutrients known to be associated with anemia such as zinc and riboflavin deficiencies were prevalent (30% and 82%, respectively). In addition, 54% of the Prey Veng women had a genetic Hb disorder (e.g., α-thalassemias), which are inherited diseases that can result in a defective Hb structure and/or impair Hb production, either of which can reduce Hb concentration and increase the risk of anemia. Further, genetic Hb disorders cause ferritin and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) concentrations to increase, which reduce the diagnostic sensitivity of these biomarkers to identify IDA. In 2011, the Cambodian Ministry of Health (MOH) recommended weekly iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation for all women of reproductive age, consistent with WHO guidelines. However, if iron deficiency is not a major cause of anemia, then at best supplementation is a waste of valuable resources and at worst could cause harm. Further, the justification for provision of multiple micronutrients among this population has not yet been proven, despite the push from some organizations such as the WHO. There is an urgent need to conduct a trial to clarify whether iron or other micronutrient deficiencies are a major cause of anemia in Cambodia. Research Hypotheses: The iron-supplemented group will have a significantly higher mean Hb concentration than the placebo group after 12-weeks, indicating a higher prevalence of iron deficiency than suggested by ferritin and sTfR biomarkers at baseline. The multiple micronutrients with iron group will have a significantly higher mean Hb concentration than the iron alone-supplemented group, indicating that the addition of other micronutrients confer a benefit in reducing anemia. Reticulocyte count is the most sensitive biomarker to predict the responsiveness to iron therapy. Research Goals and Objectives: Goal 1. To determine if iron deficiency exists among women in Cambodia, where genetic Hb disorders and inflammation are prevalent, by conducting a randomized controlled trial of iron supplementation. Objective 1: To compare Hb concentration (g/L) after 12-weeks of supplementation in women to determine if iron significantly improves Hb concentration, compared to a placebo. Goal 2: To determine if the addition of other micronutrients confers any additional benefit to iron supplementation, by conducting a 2 x 2 factorial study design. Objective 2: To compare Hb concentration (g/L) across the four groups (multiple micronutrients with iron, multiple micronutrients without iron, iron alone, and placebo) after 12-weeks. Goal 3. To investigate multiple biomarkers of iron deficiency to determine which is most sensitive and specific to predict the response to iron or multiple micronutrient with iron supplementation. Objective 3: To determine which of the hematological indicators (baseline values for ferritin, sTfR, reticulocyte count and hepcidin) have the strongest diagnostic ability to predict responsiveness to iron therapy after 12-weeks using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. Study Design: A 2 x 2 factorial double blind randomized controlled trial will be conducted over 12 weeks. A total of \~800 women (18-45 y) with anemia will be recruited and randomized to 1 of 4 groups: multiple micronutrients with iron, multiple micronutrients without iron, iron alone or placebo. Population and Setting: Cambodian women will be recruited to local health centers using convenience sampling from 4 randomly selected villages in a peri-urban area of Kampong Chhnang province. This province is \~1.5 hours outside of the capital city of Phnom Penh. Randomization: Women will be randomized 1:1 by a computer-generated random list to one of four interventions (n=200 each group). Randomization to either a treatment or control group will reduce bias and confounding factors, which may affect the Hb response (outcome). The manufacturers of the gel capsules will be responsible for blinding the four interventions at time of capsule packaging and will retain confidentiality of capsule contents until the time of study completion. Methods: Blood will be collected at baseline, and at 1 and 12 weeks after the intervention and assessed for Hb, hematological biomarkers (reticulocyte count, MCV, RDW, hepcidin), micronutrients and iron biomarkers (vitamin B12, folate, zinc, riboflavin, ferritin, sTfR, RBP) inflammation (AGP and CRP) and genetic Hb disorders. We will use a general linear model to measure differences in Hb concentration across the four groups after the intervention. Receiver operating characteristic curves will be used to determine the diagnostic ability of the multiple hematological indicators to predict responsiveness to iron therapy. Implications: This translational research is urgently required in Cambodia to build the evidence needed to inform the Ministry of Health on strategies, policy and programs to reduce, prevent and treat anemia among women in Southeast Asia (\~300,000,000) and among Southeast Asian immigrants in Canada (who will number \~450,000 by 2031).