The goal of this study is to investigate the efficacy of a low dose iron supplement (6mg) compared to a placebo tablet.
The established therapy for iron-deficiency today is oral iron supplementation. However, this often leads to side effects such as constipation, black stools, nausea, and abdominal pain. There are some studies that have compared the efficacy of low-dose iron with normal-dose iron. These showed that the side effects are dose-dependent. Furthermore, some studies have shown that the uptake capacity of high-dose iron is less efficient due to the upregulation of hepcidin. In a pilot study with low-dose iron (6mg per tablet), a significant increase in iron was shown, which can be explained by a lower hepcidin release. Therefore, the investigators would like to show the efficacy of the low-dose iron product in a placebo-controlled setting. Furthermore, the goal is to examine the reduction of side effects before and after administration of the iron and placebo tablet. Additionally, a potential increase of low blood pressure to normal blood pressure will be investigated. There will be two groups of women: one group will be given a low-dose iron supplement of two tablets containing each 6mg for 2 months (60 days), the other one will get two placebo tablet for 2 months, accordingly.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
59
University Hospital of Zurich
Zurich, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland
Serum-ferritin change
significant change of serum-ferritin under supplementation
Time frame: 60 ± 5 days
Blood Pressure
change of blood pressure (systolic and diastolic blood pressure)
Time frame: 60 ± 5 days
Blood Sugar
change of blood sugar levels
Time frame: 60 ± 5 days
Lipid Status
change of lipid status (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides)
Time frame: 60 ± 5 days
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