NCT02162238

Brief Summary

Introduction: The prevalence of low serum zinc in children under 5 in East Seme, Kisumu is 73.5% and this is likely due at least in part to low bioavailable zinc from the local cereal-based diet. Interventions that will increase zinc intake could prove useful in the effort to control zinc deficiency. A potential strategy is to increase zinc intake through enriched or fortified water. The Life Straw Family filter (LSF, Verstergaard Frandsen S.A, Switzerland) is capable of purifying water and at the same time enriching it with zinc at a variable concentration with mean delivery of approximately 1-4mg/L. Aims of the study: The primary aim of this study will be to quantify in under 5 year old children the contribution of the household LSF device to zinc intake and dietary zinc bioavailability in participating households. Secondary objectives are; 1) to assess change in serum zinc levels, growth, morbidity in the intervention group compared to control; 2) to characterize composition of the intestinal flora of children in the intervention group compared to control. Study Design and Methods: Consenting households from East Seme, Kisumu, Kenya will be randomly allocated to 2 treatment arms in an effectiveness study (90 under-five's per treatment arm). Group one will receive the LSF device with the zinc delivery system; group 2 will receive a LSF without the zinc delivery system. Zinc intake will be assessed in a subsample of the under 5 year old children enrolled in the effectiveness trial (n=100). This will be estimated by 24 hr recalls administered on 2 non-consecutive days in the dry and wet season. Selected food samples will be collected for direct analysis of zinc and phytic acid content, to supplement data from food composition tables (FCT's). The dietary assessment data will be used to estimate the distribution of zinc intakes in this age group and the EAR cut-off method will be used to estimate the proportion at risk of inadequate intakes. Data on water intake from the LSF device will be obtained by personal diaries and tally counters. The Zn concentration of the filtered water will be measured weekly. Using these data and the data from the dietary assessment, the contribution of the LSF zinc delivery to the overall dietary zinc intake will be estimated. The effectiveness study will be conducted as a 6-month double blind randomised trial with 3 assessment time points (baseline, midpoint and endpoint). Three ml (3ml) whole blood will be collected from under 5 year old children enrolled in the households for determination of serum zinc (SZn), C-reactive protein (CRP), Alpha-1- acid glycoprotein (AGP) and hemoglobin (Hb). Stool samples will be collected from a subsample at baseline, midpoint and endpoint in the intervention and control group to assess the composition of the gut microflora and gut inflammation. Anthropometrics (weight and height) will be measured at baseline, midpoint and endpoint of the study. Weekly active surveillance for incidence and severity of malaria, diarrhea and other infectious diseases will be done by questionnaire.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
186

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Feb 2014

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

February 1, 2014

Completed
2 months until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

April 16, 2014

Completed
2 months until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

June 12, 2014

Completed
2 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

August 1, 2014

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

August 1, 2014

Completed
Last Updated

September 3, 2014

Status Verified

September 1, 2014

Enrollment Period

6 months

First QC Date

April 16, 2014

Last Update Submit

September 2, 2014

Conditions

Keywords

zincdietwatermorbiditygrowth

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • number of participants with adequate zinc intake above the EAR (estimated average requirement)

    6 months

Secondary Outcomes (2)

  • number of participants with increased serum zinc level from baseline

    at 3 months into intervention and at 6 months

  • morbidity incidence

    every week up to 24 weeks

Study Arms (2)

purified water

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Filtered water Pump water purified by the LSF-filtering device Intervention: Device: LSF-filtering device

zinc enriched purified water

EXPERIMENTAL

Zinc water water purified and zinc-enriched by the LSF-filtering device Intervention: Device: LSF-filtering device

Device: LSF-filtering device

Interventions

Device: LSF-filtering device LifeStraw Family is a water purification device that by means of hollow fibres removes solid particles (\<0.5 Nephelometric Turbidity units turbidity reduction), bacteria (\>Log 6 reduction), viruses (\>Log 4 reduction) and cysts (\>Log 3 reduction). Zinc enrichment is provided by a chamber housing a zinc releasing glass-plate that is placed annexed to the hollow fibre column. It is estimated that the LSF can provide about 5 mg of zinc/l of filtered water. By consuming daily a portion of 0.6 litres of enriched water, \>100% of the age-specific estimated physiologic requirement would be covered, assuming a fractional absorption of 40%.

Also known as: LifeStraw Family by Vestergaard Frandsen SA
zinc enriched purified water

Eligibility Criteria

Age2 Years - 5 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsChild (0-17)

You may qualify if:

  • Children (under 5 year olds) in consenting households will participate in the study

You may not qualify if:

  • Subjects with severe anemia (Hb\<7g/dl)
  • Subjects receiving zinc supplementation
  • Subject with chronic diseases affecting zinc metabolism, such as kidney diseases or chronic gastrointestinal disease.
  • Subjects participating in any other clinical trials in the study site

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Maseno University

Kisumu, Nyanza, Kenya

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Kujinga P, Galetti V, Onyango E, Jakab V, Buerkli S, Andang'o P, Brouwer ID, Zimmermann MB, Moretti D. Effectiveness of zinc-fortified water on zinc intake, status and morbidity in Kenyan pre-school children: a randomised controlled trial. Public Health Nutr. 2018 Oct;21(15):2855-2865. doi: 10.1017/S1368980018001441. Epub 2018 Jun 7.

Study Officials

  • Diego Moretti, PhD

    ETH Zurich

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
  • Inge D Brouwer, PhD

    Wageningen University

    STUDY DIRECTOR
  • Michael B Zimmerman, PhD

    ETH Zurich and Wageningen University

    STUDY CHAIR
  • Pauline Andango, PhD

    Maseno University

    STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
TRIPLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR
Purpose
PREVENTION
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

April 16, 2014

First Posted

June 12, 2014

Study Start

February 1, 2014

Primary Completion

August 1, 2014

Study Completion

August 1, 2014

Last Updated

September 3, 2014

Record last verified: 2014-09

Locations