Absorption of Heme and Non-Heme Iron in Pregnant and Non-pregnant Women and Mechanisms of Fetal Iron Transfer

March 21, 2012 updated by: Cornell University
The three specific aims of this study are 1) to assess the impact of iron status on relative differences in absorption of heme and non-heme iron among pregnant women and non-pregnant women, 2) to assess the magnitude and the determinants of heme and non-heme iron transfer to the fetus over the last trimester of pregnancy, and 3) to characterize relationships between placental iron binding proteins with the enrichment of stable iron isotopes in the neonate at birth. The investigators hypothesize that there will be up regulation of heme and non-heme iron absorption and up regulation of placental iron transport proteins in response to low maternal iron stores.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Detailed Description

To measure the absorption of heme and non-heme iron in women, pregnant and non-pregnant women will consume a standardized meal of pork (intrinsically labeled with 58Fe) and a second meal of non-heme 57Fe (as ferrous sulfate). Two weeks after ingesting these test meals, a blood sample will be collected from each women and the amount of heme (58Fe) and non-heme (57Fe) iron incorporated into red blood cells will be measured with magnetic sector thermal ionization mass spectrometry. Cord blood samples and placental tissue will be obtained at delivery to measure how these two forms of dietary iron were transferred across the placenta to the fetus. Maternal and neonatal iron status and placental proteins involved in iron transport will also be measured. Data from this study will provide information that aims to improve human health by better understanding the iron requirements of a population at high risk of iron deficiency.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

55

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • New York
      • Rochester, New York, United States, 14620
        • Highland Hospital
      • Rochester, New York, United States, 14642
        • Strong Memorial Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

15 years to 35 years (Child, Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Pregnant women and adolescents from Rochester, NY and non-pregnant women from Ithaca, NY.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnant subjects (15-35 yrs): non-smoking,healthy with uncomplicated pregnancies at time of enrollment
  • Non-pregnant subjects (18-35 yrs): healthy, non-smoking, not taking vitamin or mineral supplements and not planning on becoming pregnant during course of study.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnant subjects: gestational diabetes, hypertension, preeclampsia, underlying malabsorption diseases or other diagnosed medical problems known to impact iron homeostasis
  • Non-pregnant subjects: underlying malabsorption diseases or other diagnosed medical problems known to impact iron homeostasis.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Heme and Non-Heme Iron Absorption
Time Frame: two-weeks post dosing (3rd trimester for pregnant subjects)
two-weeks post dosing (3rd trimester for pregnant subjects)
Heme and Non-Heme Transfer to Fetus
Time Frame: Delivery
Delivery

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Iron Status (serum ferritin, TfR, Total Body Iron, Hb, Hepcidin), Folate, B-12, CRP and EPO in women and neonates
Time Frame: two weeks post dosing and at delivery for pregnant subjects
two weeks post dosing and at delivery for pregnant subjects
Protein expression of key iron transport proteins.
Time Frame: Delivery
Delivery

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Cornell University

Collaborators

University of Rochester

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Kimberly O O'Brien, PhD, Cornell University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

May 1, 2008

Primary Completion (Actual)

July 1, 2011

Study Completion (Actual)

July 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 24, 2009

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 24, 2009

First Posted (Estimate)

November 25, 2009

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

March 22, 2012

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 21, 2012

Last Verified

March 1, 2012

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 06-06-045
  • 2006-07-160 (Other Grant/Funding Number: HATCH, Cornell University)

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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