Improving Iron Status Through Consumption Of Iron Fortified Cowpea: An Intervention Study

Wageningen University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Anemia; Low Iron Stores

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Cowpea fortified with NaFeEDTA, in form of Toubani.

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01208363

COWPEA

WUR10/13 (Other Identifier)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Rationale: Iron deficiency and zinc deficiency, are of public health significance in sub-Saharan Africa. An estimated 50% of children (5-14 years) in developing countries suffer from anaemia, half of which is estimated iron deficiency anaemia. Interventions have been designed and implemented over the years towards solving hunger and anaemia especially among school age children. One of such interventions is School Feeding Programme (SFP) which is common in both developing and industrialized countries. SFP has been part of the Ghanaian educational system for well over 40 years, albeit on small scale. The main stay of the programme that makes it distinguishable from other past and existing school feeding programmes is its reliance on locally produced and available foods, such as cowpeas. Legume staples like cowpea have been identified to be important sources of protein and non-heme iron to rural populations of developing countries like Ghana. The problem however is the low bioavailability of these micronutrients from these legumes.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of iron fortified cowpea based meal (Tubani) in improving iron status of primary school children in rural northern Ghana Study design: A randomized double blind parallel design will be conducted. One group will receive iron fortified Tubani with NaFeEDTA and the other group will receive unfortified Tubani.

Study population: Two hundred and forty apparently healthy pupils in lower primary school will participate. The participating schools have a school feeding programme currently in operation.

Intervention (if applicable): Children will be fed Tubani containing 10mg of fortification iron (in the form of NaFeEDTA) three times in a week for six months. Weight, height and blood samples will be measured at baseline and after six months of intervention. Participants will be treated against intestinal parasites before start of intervention and halfway through the intervention.

Main study parameters/endpoints: The main study endpoint is iron-deficiency anaemia (IDA). IDA will be defined as concurrent anaemia and iron deficiency. Whole blood will be collected for the analysis of Hb, serum ferritin (SF), serum transferring receptor (sTfR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Anemia will be defined as a hemoglobin concentration <115 g/L, and iron deficiency will be defined as an SF concentration <12 µg/L.

Venipunctures occasionally lead to bruises or small local inflammation which usually disappear within one week. To minimize this risk, blood collection will be performed by a trained and experienced phlebotomists. Written informed consent will be obtained from all subjects.

Enrollment: 240 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 6 to 12 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Children 6-12 years old
• Regularly attending school, in grades 1-3
• Apparently healthy, free of chronic illnesses and not taking chronic medication.
• No medication nor supplemental iron at time of entry into the study
• Informed consent obtained from at least one parent or guardian

Exclusion criteria

• Children with severe anemia (Hb<70 g/l).

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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240 participants in 2 patient groups

Unfortified Toubani

No Intervention group

Description:

Children in the school will receive, 3 times per week 66g of raw unfortified (no added Fe) cowpea in form of Toubani (a cowpea based snack).

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Cowpea fortified with NaFeEDTA, in form of Toubani.

Fortified Cowpea

Active Comparator group

Description:

Study subjects will receive 3 times per week, as part of the school feeding programme 66g of raw fortified cowpea (with added 10mg Fe as NaFeEDTA)in form of Toubani (a cowpea based snack).

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Cowpea fortified with NaFeEDTA, in form of Toubani.