Do Iron Supplements Impact the Gut Microbiome of Women of Reproductive Age?

South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute

Status: Completed

Conditions: Anemia; Iron-deficiency; Microbial Colonization

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Placebo; Dietary Supplement: Ferrous Fumarate

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05033483

Iron Mic

Details and patient eligibility

About

In this randomised controlled trial the investigators will determine whether taking iron supplements compared to placebo for 21 days alters the bacteria (microbiome) in the large intestine of non-pregnant female participants.

Full description

BACKGROUND: Many women take iron-containing supplements during pregnancy. Indeed, the World Health Organization recommends that all pregnant women in low-income countries take an iron supplement containing 60 mg/day of elemental iron to reduce iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anaemia. However, oral iron has poor bioavailability, less than 10% absorbed with the remainder passing into the large intestine unbound, potentially providing a competitive advantage to iron-dependent opportunistic pathogens in the large intestine.

In a large randomized control trial in children, iron supplementation was shown to promote the growth of pathogenic species (E. coli, S. aureus, and L. monocytogenes) and inhibited the growth of commensal species (Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium). These pathogens are associated with enteric infections, while the commensals act on the host's immune system to prevent colonization and invasion by pathogens.

It is NOT known if iron supplementation during pregnancy impacts the maternal and infant microbiome and, by extension, how this affects the neonatal risk of infection and immune dysregulation. Vertical transmission of the maternal microbiome to the newborn is a major determinant of infant health. If maternal iron supplementation affects the infant's health, strategies would be required to mitigate this risk.

The investigators require preliminary data to show how oral iron supplementation alters the intestinal microbiome in women. The Investigators will recruit non-pregnant female participants as there is no risk of vertical transmission to an infant in non-pregnant women. The investigators will conduct the study in Australia because there is not a natural abundance of pathogens that could potentially cause harm to the women. Nevertheless, the investigators would expect a shift in the microbiome from non-iron to iron, requiring bacterial species to return to baseline after women stop taking the iron.

HYPOTHESIS: Daily iron supplementation versus placebo for 21 days will alter the stool microbiome composition compared to placebo in non-pregnant female participants of reproductive age.

METHODS: 80 female participants (18-45 y) will be randomized to receive capsules containing iron (65.7 mg of elemental iron as ferrous fumarate) or placebo to take daily for 21 days. Stool samples will be collected at baseline, 21 days, and 42 days (washout).

Enrollment: 82 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 45 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Able to give informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Planning on becoming pregnant
• Diagnosed with iron deficiency and/or anaemia in the previous three months
• Taken antibiotics in the past three months
• Taken iron containing supplements in the past three months

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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82 participants in 2 patient groups

Iron Supplement

Experimental group

Description:

65.7 mg of iron as ferrous fumarate

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Ferrous Fumarate

Placebo

Active Comparator group

Description:

0 mg of iron

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Placebo