The Effect of Different Prebiotics on Iron Absorption From High Dose Iron Supplements

Summary

Iron deficiency (ID) remains the most common global nutrient deficiency, with young women at high risk. Iron supplements are first line treatment for ID but absorption is often low. Dietary components that could increase iron absorption would be valuable.

Prebiotics are among the potential enhancers of non-heme iron absorption. Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), fructo-oligosaccharides and acacia gum are safe and widely-used prebiotics.

To our knowledge, no studies have assessed the effect of acacia gum on iron absorption in human or animal models. Evidence exists about the enhancement of iron absorption when given in combination with FOS in rats. However, an iron stable isotope study in infants reported that 7.5 g of GOS improved iron absorption from 5 mg iron from a mixture of ferrous fumarate and sodium iron EDTA. In a recent iron absorption study in adult women with low iron stores in our lab we found that 15 g of GOS given with FeFum (14 mg of elemental iron) acutely increased iron absorption when given with water (+61%) and a meal (+28%).

For prevention of anemia among non-pregnant women, the WHO recommends intermittent (once, twice or three times a week) oral iron supplementation with 60 mg of elemental iron. This has been shown to be effective, safe and acceptable for improving hemoglobin concentrations in women and lowering their risk of anemia. If GOS improves iron absorption from a higher dose of iron, and if FOS and acacia gum might also enhance iron absorption from FeFum is unclear. With this study we therefore aim to investigate if consumption of a single oral dose of 15 g GOS, FOS or acacia gum increase iron absorption from single 100 mg oral iron doses, a common amount found in supplements on the market for treatment of iron deficiency, given as ferrous fumarate in otherwise healthy iron depleted women.

Conditions

• Iron-deficiency

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

ferrous fumarate

iron (100 mg) supplement in form of ferrous fumarate

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

ferrous fumarate + 15 g GOS

iron (100 mg) supplement in form of ferrous fumarate with addition of prebiotics (15 g GOS)

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

ferrous fumarate + 15 g FOS

iron (100 mg) supplement in form of ferrous fumarate with addition of prebiotics (15 g FOS)

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

labelled iron as ferrous fumarate + 15 g acacia gum

iron (100 mg) supplement in form of ferrous fumarate with addition of prebiotics (15 g acacia gum)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Swiss Federal Institute of Technology

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Isabelle Herter-Aeberli, PhD · Laboratory of Human Nutrition ETH Zürich

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

SINGLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

45 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2020-07-20

Primary Completion

2020-10-06

Completion

2020-10-06

Countries

• Switzerland

Study Locations