NCT01224535

Brief Summary

Introduction: Iron deficiency anaemia remains a significant public health challenge. Localized food based approaches may offer a large opportunity to improve lives and address the widespread micronutrient deficiencies such as iron in affected households. Viable solutions where iron rich foods are not readily available may come through diversification approaches using foods such as amaranth grain reported to contain high iron content and good quality protein in conjunction with the use of in-home fortification. Objectives: To determine the efficacy of maize porridge enriched with amaranth flour on improving diet quality, iron intake and status in children 12-59 months in a semiarid area in Kenya. Study population: The study population will comprise children aged 12-59 months in Migwani, within the larger Mwingi district, Kenya. Mothers or principal caretakers will be interviewed on behalf of the children. In total, 270 children will be enrolled in the study. Study design: The study has a randomized controlled trial design conducted over a period of 4 months/16 weeks. Treatment/hypothesis: All participating children will be required to take the provided porridge equivalent to 80g of flour 5 days a week for 16 weeks. There will be 3 treatments groups as follows; (1) maize porridge enriched with amaranth grain flour at 70:30 maize/amaranth ratio, (2) maize porridge fortified with a multiple micronutrient powder (MixMe™) and (3) plain maize porridge group. Hypothesis: there will be a significant difference in hemoglobin and iron status between the three groups. Methods: Blood samples (5ml) will be collected by veni-puncture at baseline and after intervention. Hb concentration, Zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP) and malaria infection will be assessed in the field. Analyses of serum ferritin, serum transferrin receptor and C-reactive protein (CRP) will be done at the participating laboratories. Main study parameter/Endpoints: Change in Hb concentration is the primary outcome of this study. Body iron measured by serum ferritin (SF) and serum transferrin receptor (STfR) are the secondary outcome. Iron deficiency will be defined as SF concentration \<12 µg/L and tissue iron deficiency will be defined as serum transferrin receptor concentration of \>8.3mg/L. Infection will be assessed by raised CRP (\>10mg/L) as an indicator of acute inflammation and presence of malaria.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
270

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Oct 2010

Shorter than P25 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

October 1, 2010

Completed
17 days until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

October 18, 2010

Completed
2 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

October 20, 2010

Completed
7 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

June 1, 2011

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

June 1, 2011

Completed
Last Updated

September 29, 2011

Status Verified

October 1, 2010

Enrollment Period

8 months

First QC Date

October 18, 2010

Last Update Submit

September 28, 2011

Conditions

Keywords

Complementary foodsAmaranthFood Based approachesIron Deficiency anemiaArid AreasAfrica

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Hemoglobin

    Hemoglobin (g/l)

    Start of study (T=0), End of study (T=4months)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

  • Iron Status

    Begin (t=0), End of study (t=4 months)

Study Arms (3)

Maize porridge with Amaranth

EXPERIMENTAL

Maize porridge enriched with amaranth grain flour at 70:30 maize/amaranth ratio (80g/day)

Dietary Supplement: Maize and Amaranth

Maize flour with multiple micronutrients

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Maize porridge fortified with a multiple micronutrient powder (MixMe™)

Dietary Supplement: Maize and Amaranth

Maize Porridge

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Plain maize porridge group

Dietary Supplement: Maize and Amaranth

Interventions

Maize and AmaranthDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

80g porridge per day, 5 days a week, for 16 weeks (4 months)

Also known as: Mix Me micro-nutrient powder
Maize PorridgeMaize flour with multiple micronutrientsMaize porridge with Amaranth

Eligibility Criteria

Age12 Months - 59 Months
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsChild (0-17)

You may qualify if:

  • Aged 12-59 months at the time of entry into the study
  • Resident in village for at least 6-months and the caretaker plans to remain in the area for the next year
  • Apparently healthy at the time of entry into the study

You may not qualify if:

  • Severe anaemia i.e. Hb concentration \<70 g/L (See section 5.5)
  • Taking iron containing haematinic supplements
  • Transfused in the last six months
  • Severely undernourished i.e. anthropometric indices \<-3 Z score

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Migwani Area

Migwani Area, Mwingi District, Kenya

Location

Related Publications (2)

  • Hotz C, Gibson RS. Complementary feeding practices and dietary intakes from complementary foods amongst weanlings in rural Malawi. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2001 Oct;55(10):841-9. doi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601239.

    PMID: 11593345BACKGROUND
  • Macharia-Mutie CW, Moretti D, Van den Briel N, Omusundi AM, Mwangi AM, Kok FJ, Zimmermann MB, Brouwer ID. Maize porridge enriched with a micronutrient powder containing low-dose iron as NaFeEDTA but not amaranth grain flour reduces anemia and iron deficiency in Kenyan preschool children. J Nutr. 2012 Sep;142(9):1756-63. doi: 10.3945/jn.112.157578. Epub 2012 Jul 18.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

AnemiaAnemia, Iron-Deficiency

Interventions

Amaranth Dye

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Hematologic DiseasesHemic and Lymphatic DiseasesAnemia, HypochromicIron DeficienciesIron Metabolism DisordersMetabolic DiseasesNutritional and Metabolic Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Azo CompoundsOrganic ChemicalsNaphthalenesulfonatesNaphthalenesPolycyclic Aromatic HydrocarbonsHydrocarbons, AromaticHydrocarbons, CyclicHydrocarbonsArylsulfonatesArylsulfonic AcidsSulfonic AcidsSulfur AcidsSulfur CompoundsPolycyclic Compounds

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

October 18, 2010

First Posted

October 20, 2010

Study Start

October 1, 2010

Primary Completion

June 1, 2011

Study Completion

June 1, 2011

Last Updated

September 29, 2011

Record last verified: 2010-10

Locations