The Effects of Iron and Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on Cognition and Immune Function in Iron Deficient Children

Summary

The aim of this study is to determine if providing iron and a mixture of DHA and EPA, alone and in combination, to children with iron deficiency and poor n-3 fatty acid intake will improve their cognitive performance, activity levels and immune system.

Additionally, the effects on iron and fatty acid status, and gut microbiota, will be assessed.

Conditions

• Iron Deficiency
• Anemia

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

DHA and EPA Fish Oil capsule

2 DHA/EPA capsules on 4 days per week containing totally 420 mg DHA and 80 mg EPA, providing an average dose of 285.7 mg n-3 fatty acids per day

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Iron tablet

1 iron tablet containing 50 mg of iron as ferrous sulfate will be administered on 4 days per week, providing an average iron dose of 28.6 mg iron per day.

OTHER

Placebo tablet

Placebo tablet will be administered on 4 days per week and will be identical in appearance to the iron tablet.

OTHER

Placebo capsule

Placebo capsules contain medium chain triglycerides and will be identical in appearance and total fat content to the DHA/EPA capsules.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Swiss Federal Institute of Technology

  collaborator OTHER

• Medical Research Council, South Africa

  collaborator OTHER

• Unilever R&D

  collaborator INDUSTRY

• North-West University, South Africa

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Marius Smuts, PhD · North-West University

• Michael B Zimmermann, PhD · ETH Zürich

• Linda Malan, MSc · North-West University

• Jeannine Baumgartner, MSc · ETH Zürich

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Model

FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

6 Years

Max Age

10 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2010-02-28

Primary Completion

2010-11-30

Completion

2010-12-31

Countries

• South Africa

Study Locations