Iron Deficiencies
Conditions
Keywords
iron, microbiota, exercise
Brief summary
Female endurance athletes are susceptible to iron deficiency and this can impact their exercise performance. This study aims to assess the efficacy of a novel iron supplement in improving iron status, gut microbiome, and exercise performance in endurance-trained females.
Detailed description
Current iron supplements on the market are commonly associated with side effects including gastrointestinal distress, nausea, vomiting, and constipation. As a solution, the investigators have developed a novel delivery system for iron supplementation that overcomes many of these limitations. The goal of this study is to assess the efficacy of a yeast-iron complex in improving iron status, gut microbiome, and exercise performance in endurance-trained adolescent females (aged 14-17) with sub-optimal iron status. Participants will consume 40mg of elemental iron every second day for 8 weeks. Before and after supplementation, participants will be assessed for exercise capacity (VO2max), iron status, and the current state of the gut microbiome. each week during supplementation, participants will complete a survey in which they will report feelings of stress and recovery as well as gastrointestinal symptoms.
Interventions
OTHERFeSC
Iron/yeast complex
Sponsors
Mitacs
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada
University of Calgary
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
14 Years to 17 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* cis-gendered female 14-18 years old * sub-optimal iron status (ferritin ≤45mcg/ L) * At least 1 year past the age of menarche * Engage in moderate to vigorous endurance activity for at least 3 hours a week
Exclusion criteria
* Supplemented with iron iron (\>5mg/day), prebiotics, or probiotics in last 3 months * antibiotic use in last 3 months * \- Energy availability \>30 kcal/kg lean body mass
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Iron Status | Baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks | Ferritin |
| Lower Gut microbiome | Baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks | Fecal sample |
| Hemoglobin | Baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks | Hemoglobin concentration |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise Capacity | Baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks | Oxygen Consumption (VO2max) |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Gastrointestinal Symptoms 1 | Weekly for 8 weeks | Gastrointestinal Symptoms Questionnaire (Scale 0-4; lower scores indicate reduced severity of symptoms) |
| Stress and Recovery | Weekly for 8 weeks | The Recovery-Stress Questionnaire (scale 1-6; higher scores indicate better outcomes) |
| Sleepiness | Weekly for 8 weeks | Epworth Sleepiness scale (scale 0-3; increased score indicates increased sleepiness) |
| Gastrointestinal Symptoms 2 | Weekly for 8 weeks | Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (Scale 0-4; lower scores indicate reduced severity of symptoms) |
Countries
Canada
Outcome results
None listed