Improving the Iron Status of Athletes With Pre-, Pro- and Synbiotics

Summary

Iron deficiency (ID) is the most common micronutrient deficiency worldwide, and poor iron bioavailability is a major cause. While 30% of female athletes are affected by ID, and its consequences are highly relevant to athletic performance, ID affects women and children around the world with consequences just as relevant, if not more so (e.g. school performance, work capacity and thus wage earning). With poor iron absorption being a cause of ID in active women, it is especially important to discover simple ways to improve iron (Fe) uptake. While some studies have suggested that consumption of prebiotic fiber may improve Fe absorption in animal models, there have been few studies examining the effects of synbiotic supplementation (consumption of both a prebiotic and probiotic that work together) on Fe uptake in adult females (athletes and non-athletes).

A recent pilot study demonstrated a substantial improvement in Fe uptake in female athletes after 4 and 8 weeks of synbiotic supplementation compared to placebo during Fe repletion with a low dose of ferrous sulfate (FeSO4). If synbiotic supplementation can improve the Fe bioavailability of FeSO4 (which is \~30%) in ID women during repletion of Fe status, it could possibly improve the Fe bioavailability of non-heme Fe sources, as well as mixed meals.

Research Question: What is the effect of synbiotic supplementation (a supplement containing a prebiotic + a probiotic), compared to prebiotic supplementation or a placebo, on Fe uptake and the gut microbiome in ID athletes during low-dose Fe repletion?

Hypothesis: In the proposed study, we hypothesize that synbiotic supplementation along with Fe repletion with a low dose of FeSO4 will have greatest impact on athletes' Fe uptake due to alterations in the microbiome, which will be assessed.

Conditions

• Iron-deficiency
• Iron Deficiency Anemia
• Iron Deficiency (Without Anemia)

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Partially hydrolyzed guar gum + bifidobacterium lactis

Synbiotic Supplement: Contains 5 grams of prebiotic fiber (Sunfiber®) and 8 billion active probiotics (Bifidobacterium lactis).

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Partially hydrolyzed guar gum

5 g Partially hydrolyzed guar gum

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Maltodextrin

5 g Maltodextrin

Sponsors & Collaborators

• King's College

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Diane M. DellaValle · King's College

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

35 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-08-15

Primary Completion

2022-05-15

Completion

2022-05-15

Countries

• United States

Study Locations