Effect of Inulin on Iron Absorption in Humans

NCT01483092 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: INOL
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 32
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that beneficially affect the host by selectively stimulating the growth or activity of species in the colon that can improve host health. Inulin-type fructans (inulin and oligofructose) are natural food ingredients with prebiotic activity. Fermentation of inulin and oligofructose by lactic acid producing bacteria results in an increase in bacterial biomass and the production of SCFA (acetate, propionate and butyrate), lactic acid and the gases CO2 and H2. They are naturally present in significant amounts in several vegetables such as garlic, artichoke, onion, asparagus, leek and wheat (1-4%). Based on consumption data, the daily intake of inulin in Europe varies between 3.2 and 11.3g mainly from wheat (2-7.8g/d). However, this might have changed recently since inulin and oligofructose are used by the food industry either as sucrose and fat replacements or due to their health benefits for the human host. Several human absorption studies evaluated the effect of inulin/oligofructose on mineral absorption. It was shown that calcium and magnesium absorption was positively influenced. Until now, the positive effect on iron absorption was only shown in animals. The influence on human iron absorption was investigated twice. Both studies reported no effect of inulin/oligofructose on iron absorption, but this was most likely due to poorly conceived study designs. The aim of the present study is to demonstrate that inulin consumption over several weeks can lead to enhanced iron absorption in humans under optimized conditions.

Conditions

Iron Absorption; Gut Bacteria

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• impact of inulin on iron absorption from standardized test meals, measured in humans by stable iron isotope technique

  3 month

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• impact of inulin on the concentration of gut microbiota (bifidobacteria and total bacteria), SCFA and fecal pH in human subjects

  3 month

Study Arms (2)

inulin

EXPERIMENTAL

Dietary Supplement: inulin

maltodextrin

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Dietary Supplement: maltodextrin

Interventions

inulin DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

20g/day for 4 weeks

inulin

maltodextrin DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

20g/day for 4 weeks

maltodextrin

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 40 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• non-pregnant, non-lactating women
• between 18 and 40 years
• below 65kg

You may not qualify if:

• metabolic, chronic and gastro-intestinal disease
• long-term medication
• blood donation within 6 month before the study-

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Swiss Federal Institute of Technology: lead

Study Sites (1)

ETH

Zurich, Canton of Zurich, 8092, Switzerland

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Petry N, Egli I, Chassard C, Lacroix C, Hurrell R. Inulin modifies the bifidobacteria population, fecal lactate concentration, and fecal pH but does not influence iron absorption in women with low iron status. Am J Clin Nutr. 2012 Aug;96(2):325-31. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.112.035717. Epub 2012 Jun 27.

  PMID: 22743314 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Inulin; maltodextrin

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Starch; Glucans; Biopolymers; Polymers; Macromolecular Substances; Dietary Carbohydrates; Carbohydrates; Fructans; Polysaccharides

Study Officials

• Richard Hurrell, Prof. Dr.

  ETH Zurich

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Prof.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 9, 2011
• First Posted: December 1, 2011
• Study Start: August 1, 2011
• Primary Completion: November 1, 2011
• Study Completion: January 1, 2012
• Last Updated: June 7, 2013

Record last verified: 2013-06

Locations

CH (1)