Impact of Iron Supplementation on Right Ventricular Function and Exercise Performance in Hypoxia

Impact of Iron Supplementation on Right Ventricular Function and Exercise Performance in Hypoxia (A Sub-Study)

The purpose of this study is to determine if taking iron supplement pills improves exercise performance in low-oxygen conditions.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Hypoxia; Right Ventricular Dysfunction
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Ferrous sulfate 325mg

Detailed Description

Hypoxia (low oxygen) causes the blood vessels in the lungs to constrict (hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction). This increases the pressure (afterload) the right ventricle faces as it pumps blood to the lungs. Increased right ventricular afterload during hypoxia may compromise exercise capacity. Intravenous iron administration prior to hypoxic exposure has been shown to blunt the hypoxia-induced increase in right ventricular afterload. This may be through iron's action in the Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF) pathway. Iron is a cofactor for prolyl hydroxylases that degrade HIF subunits and thus may "turn off" HIF-related pathways of pulmonary artery vasoconstriction and remodeling. However, it is not known whether oral iron supplementation similarly reduces right ventricular afterload in hypoxia, or what impact iron has on right ventricular function and exercise capacity in hypoxia.

This is a human physiology study that will characterize the impact of oral iron supplementation on right ventricular function and exercise performance in hypoxia. It is a follow-up "sub-study" to a separate, "parent" study (NCT05272514) by the same investigators which evaluates resting and exertional right ventricular performance in normoxia and hypoxia in 10 healthy individuals. In this follow-up study, 5 individuals who completed the parent study will be eligible to enroll. As part of the parent study, participants will complete baseline echocardiography to assess right ventricular function and cardiopulmonary exercise testing to assess exercise performance in normoxia and hypoxia. After enrolling in this study, participants will take an oral iron supplement (ferrous sulfate 325 mg oral daily) for 30 days. They will then return for one visit. First, participants will complete submaximal exercise while breathing room air. Submaximal exercise will include 5 minutes each at 40% and 60% of baseline hypoxic (fraction of inspired oxygen [FiO2] 12%) maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) achieved during parent study. After 10 minutes' rest, echocardiographic measurements will be obtained at upright rest with FiO2 21%, 17%, 15%, and 12% to characterize the impact of progressive hypoxia on resting right ventricular function. Participants will then repeat submaximal exercise tests at FiO2 12%, followed by a short period of recovery. Thereafter, participants will complete a symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise test at FiO2 12%. Measurements will include heart rate/rhythm, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, gas exchange parameters (oxygen uptake [VO2], carbon dioxide production [VCO2], and minute ventilation), rated perceived exertion and resting echocardiographic measurements.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 5
• Phase: Early Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: William Cornwell, MD; Phone Number: 303-724-2085; Email: william.cornwell@cuanschutz.edu
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Lindsay Forbes, MD; Email: lindsay.forbes@cuanschutz.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Colorado
    • Aurora, Colorado, United States, 80045
      • University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
      • Contact: William Cornwell, MD; Phone Number: 303-724-2085; Email: william.cornwell@cuanschutz.edu
      • Contact: Lindsay Forbes, MD; Email: lindsay.forbes@cuanschutz.edu
      • Principal Investigator: William Cornwell, MD
      • Sub-Investigator: Lindsay Forbes, MD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 60 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18 - 60
• For women, premenopausal status

Exclusion Criteria:

• Active cardiovascular or pulmonary disease (e.g. hypertension, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, valvular abnormalities, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, tobacco use, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, interstitial lung disease, restrictive lung disease, or pulmonary hypertension)
• Use of cardiac- or pulmonary-related medications
• Prior history of high altitude pulmonary edema or high altitude cerebral edema
• Body mass index < 18.5 or > 30
• Anemia
• Iron deficiency
• Iron supplementation (oral or intravenous) in the preceding 60 days
• Systemic anticoagulation or aspirin use that cannot be temporarily held for the study
• Pregnancy
• Non-cardiopulmonary disorders that adversely influence exercise ability (e.g. arthritis or peripheral vascular disease)
• Dedicated athletic training (defined here as spending >9 hours per week in vigorous physical activity [≥6 mets])
• Regular high-altitude exercise (defined here as engaging in vigorous physical activity [≥1 hour at ≥6 mets] at ≥8,000 ft for >2 days per week over the preceding 4 weeks)
• Residence at ≥8,000 ft for 3 or more consecutive nights in the preceding 30 days

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Healthy individuals - pre-iron; Five healthy participants will be enrolled. Baseline echocardiography and exercise data prior to oral iron supplementation will be obtained as part of the "parent" study to this study (NCT05272514).	Drug: Ferrous sulfate 325mg; Participants will take one tab of ferrous sulfate 325 mg (equivalent to 65 mg elemental iron) daily for 30 days.
Active Comparator: Healthy individuals - post-iron; The same five healthy participants will complete echocardiography and exercise testing after taking 30 days of oral iron supplementation.	Drug: Ferrous sulfate 325mg; Participants will take one tab of ferrous sulfate 325 mg (equivalent to 65 mg elemental iron) daily for 30 days.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Maximum workload	Workload in Watts at peak exercise on upright cycle ergometer	Up to 1 hour
Maximal oxygen uptake	Maximal oxygen uptake at peak exercise (VO2max) in L/min	Up to 1 hour

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Oxygen saturation at peak exercise	Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2)	Up to 1 hour
Submaximal Stage 1 workload	Workload in Watts at 40% x hypoxic VO2max (obtained during baseline hypoxic exercise test)	Up to 1 hour
Submaximal Stage 2 workload	Workload in Watts at 60% x hypoxic VO2max (obtained during baseline hypoxic exercise test)	Up to 1 hour
Ventilatory threshold	Oxygen uptake (VO2 in L/min) at which slope of VCO2/VO2 relationship increases	Up to 1 hour
Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion measured by echocardiography	In mm	Up to 1 hour
Pulmonary artery systolic pressure measured by echocardiography	In mmHg	Up to 1 hour

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Colorado, Denver

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Smith TG, Balanos GM, Croft QP, Talbot NP, Dorrington KL, Ratcliffe PJ, Robbins PA. The increase in pulmonary arterial pressure caused by hypoxia depends on iron status. J Physiol. 2008 Dec 15;586(24):5999-6005. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2008.160960. Epub 2008 Oct 27.
• Smith TG, Talbot NP, Privat C, Rivera-Ch M, Nickol AH, Ratcliffe PJ, Dorrington KL, Leon-Velarde F, Robbins PA. Effects of iron supplementation and depletion on hypoxic pulmonary hypertension: two randomized controlled trials. JAMA. 2009 Oct 7;302(13):1444-50. doi: 10.1001/jama.2009.1404.
• Cornwell WK, Tran T, Cerbin L, Coe G, Muralidhar A, Hunter K, Altman N, Ambardekar AV, Tompkins C, Zipse M, Schulte M, O'Gean K, Ostertag M, Hoffman J, Pal JD, Lawley JS, Levine BD, Wolfel E, Kohrt WM, Buttrick P. New insights into resting and exertional right ventricular performance in the healthy heart through real-time pressure-volume analysis. J Physiol. 2020 Jul;598(13):2575-2587. doi: 10.1113/JP279759. Epub 2020 May 18.
• Cornwell WK 3rd, Baggish AL, Bhatta YKD, Brosnan MJ, Dehnert C, Guseh JS, Hammer D, Levine BD, Parati G, Wolfel EE; American Heart Association Exercise, Cardiac Rehabilitation, and Secondary Prevention Committee of the Council on Clinical Cardiology; and Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. Clinical Implications for Exercise at Altitude Among Individuals With Cardiovascular Disease: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. J Am Heart Assoc. 2021 Oct 5;10(19):e023225. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.121.023225. Epub 2021 Sep 9.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): March 1, 2028
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2029
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 1, 2030

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 21, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 21, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): April 27, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 29, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 27, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cardiovascular Diseases; Heart Diseases; Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory; Ventricular Dysfunction; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Signs and Symptoms; Hypoxia; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right; ferrous sulfate
• Other Study ID Numbers: 21-4354b

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No