VertiGreens Investigating the Effects of Iron Biofortification of Microgreens on Iron Status in Women

University of Aberdeen

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Iron Biomarkers/Status

Treatments: Other: Smoothie containing iron biofortified microgreens

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06972927

821

Details and patient eligibility

About

The investigators present a diet intervention study, to be conducted as a within-subject design, to assess the effect of the provision of iron biofortified microgreens on iron intake and status in women of reproductive age and postmenopausal women. This will be investigated by providing smoothie kits for 28 days containing these microgreens and determining the impact on iron biomarkers. The investigators will also assess habitual diet, BMI, physical activity and gastrointestinal symptoms. This study will be a proof-of-concept exploratory study to explore diet based biofortification through vertical farming systems.

Full description

In this study microgreens that were grown using agronomic iron biofortification will be supplied to women to add to their diet to establish the potential nutritional impact of iron biofortified microgreens on overall iron intake and iron status. Furthermore, it will assess the adherence to the provided consumption recommendations of the biofortified crops.

Enrollment: 30 estimated patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Healthy females
• 15 of reproductive age (18-49)
• 15 postmenopausal (not had their period for an entire year)

Exclusion criteria

Medication exclusion criteria:

• Supplementing iron or vitamin B12
• Smoking or vaping
• Taking anticoagulant medication (blood thinners) except for Aspirin 75mg

Medical exclusion criteria:

• Anyone who is planning to be pregnant, is pregnant or breastfeeding
• Anyone with iron or vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia
• Anyone with history of anaemia in the past 3 months that required treatment
• Anyone who has Hb <120 g/L (12 g/dL) at screening
• Anyone with food allergies, self-reported food sensitivity or intolerance
• Anyone with coeliac disease or gluten intolerance
• Anyone suffering from a psychiatric disorder or any type of substance abuse
• Anyone with Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes
• Anyone suffering from unregulated thyroid disease
• Anyone with gastrointestinal conditions or bariatric surgery
• Anyone with haematological conditions including Thrombocytopaenia and Sickle cell anaemia

Other exclusion criteria:

• Anyone with unsuitable veins for blood sampling
• Anyone who donated blood in the last 16 weeks
• Anyone who is unable to fluently speak, read and understand English

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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30 participants in 1 patient group

Vertigreens

Experimental group

Description:

Phase 1: Habitual diet (1 week) Phase 2: Vertigreens diet: One smoothie a day containing biofortified microgreens (4 weeks)

Treatment:

Other: Smoothie containing iron biofortified microgreens