NCT06437080

Brief Summary

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to compare the treatment outcomes of oral iron supplementation (Group A) versus Intravenous (IV) iron supplementation (Group B) versus normal diet (no treatment) (Group C) on the serum ferritin level and to determine the outcomes in the severity of symptoms of HWA, among reproductive age females (age 18-45) with hypoferritinemia without Anemia (HWA), after four months of the start of the intervention. The main questions it aims to answer are:

  • Randomly divided into 3 groups (A, B and C) to receive treatment.
  • 100 patients will be allocated to each of the three study groups i.e., group A, B and C. The participants of Group A will get oral Iron III Hydroxide Polymaltose Complex eq. to Elemental Iron, 100 mg (Fersip) daily for three months, participants of group B will get IV Ferric Carboxymaltose (Ferinject) for 03 months (3 doses) and Group C will remain on their normal diet,
  • Visit the clinic once every 1 month for 03 months for doses and assessment of symptoms and adverse events will be done.
  • All 03 groups will be called after one month of the last dose and the blood samples will be taken to evaluate the effect of iron supplementation on serum ferritin levels and the severity of symptoms to assess the effectiveness of the intervention.

Trial Health

55
Monitor

Trial Health Score

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

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
1,331

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Oct 2022

Typical duration for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

4 active sites

Status
active not recruiting

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

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

October 10, 2022

Completed
1.6 years until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

May 21, 2024

Completed
10 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

May 31, 2024

Completed
10 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

April 1, 2025

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

April 1, 2025

Completed
Last Updated

February 11, 2025

Status Verified

February 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

2.5 years

First QC Date

May 21, 2024

Last Update Submit

February 7, 2025

Conditions

Keywords

Hypoferritenemia without Anemia (HWA)Reproductive age femalesSymptoms of HWADeterminants of HWALow serum ferritin levels, Iron deficiencyCross-sectional study (Phase 1)Randomized controlled trial (Phase 2)Transferrin saturation (TSAT)Intervention

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (8)

  • Symptom severity scale

    Symptom severity score before intervention: This questionnaire contains eight questions with multiple-choice responses, with a score ranging from 0 point (not at all), 1 point (mild symptoms/ rarely), 2 points (moderate/ sometimes) and 3 points (severe/ frequently). The total symptom severity score will be calculated as the mean of the scores for the eight individual items and will be recorded at week 1

    Week 1 (Baseline)

  • Determinants of Serum Ferritin value

    A questionnaire will be use to access the determinants. The questions included are blood donation history, vitamin supplementation drug, medication history, total preganacies, currently pregnant or lactating, heavy menstural bleeding, number of days of menstural bleeding and pads changed, frequency of stools per day, family history of anemia, frequency of meals per day and meal skipping

    Week 1 (Baseline)

  • Socio demographic characteristics of participants

    The characteristics that will be surveyed at level of education, region, religion, income, marital status, number of children, antenatal care and working status

    Week 1 (Baseline)

  • Dietary Diversity questionnaire

    For pattern of diet intake: History regarding daily meal frequency and skipping meals and 24 hour recall dietary of an individual will be surveyed: The score of all food groups will then be computed to get the final DDS. DDS of ≤3 will be considered low, 4-5 will be considered as moderate and ≥6 will be considered as a high DDS.

    Week 1 (Baseline)

  • Serum ferritin levels

    Serum ferritin levels before intervention

    Week 1 (Baseline)

  • Hemoglobin levels

    Complete blood count (CBC)

    week 1 (Baseline)

  • Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)

    Thyroid functions

    Week 2

  • Random blood sugar

    blood sugar levels

    Week 2

Secondary Outcomes (5)

  • Adverse events

    Week 6, 10, 16

  • Symptom severity scale

    Week 6, 10, 16

  • Change in serum ferritin levels as result of oral intervention: Fersip

    Week 16

  • Change in serum ferritin levels as result of intravenous (IV) iron intervention: Ferinject

    Week 16

  • Comparison of treatment outcomes of groups (A, B and C)

    Week 16

Study Arms (3)

Oral iron supplement

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

100 participants of Group A will get oral iron supplementation (Iron III Hydroxide Polymaltose Complex eq. to Elemental Iron), 100 mg for 03 months. Participants will consume 01 tablet per day for 03 months. After completion of the treatment period blood samples will be taken to evaluate the effect of iron supplementation on serum ferritin levels and severity of symptoms to assess the effectiveness of the intervention.

Drug: Iron III Hydroxide Polymaltose Complex eq. to Elemental Iron, 100 mg

Intravenous (IV) iron supplementation

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

100 participants of Group B will get IV iron supplementation (Ferric Carboxymaltose) for 03 months (01 dose per month for 03 months). After completion of the treatment period blood samples will be taken to evaluate the effect of iron supplementation on serum ferritin levels and severity of symptoms to assess the effectiveness of the intervention.

Drug: Ferric Carboxymaltose

Normal diet

NO INTERVENTION

100 participants will remain on their normal diet for 03 months. After 03 months blood samples will be taken to evaluate the effect of iron supplementation on serum ferritin levels and severity of symptoms to assess the effectiveness of the intervention.

Interventions

01 tablet daily for 03 months, This is assigned to Group A.

Also known as: Fersip
Oral iron supplement

03 doses (50 mg iron/mL) per month for 03 months. This is assigned to Group B.

Also known as: Ferinject
Intravenous (IV) iron supplementation

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 45 Years
Sexfemale(Gender-based eligibility)
Gender Eligibility DetailsFemales of reproductive age
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • Reproductive age females: 18 to 45 years
  • Clinical symptoms of iron deficiency which are fatigue/ tiredness, poor work productivity, poor attention and memory loss, sore tongue, poor condition of skin, nails or hair, including hair loss, delayed skin wound healing, palpitation and restless leg syndrome
  • Normal CBC: hemoglobin level12mg/dl and above
  • Serum ferritin levels: below 30 ng/ml
  • Normal thyroid levels
  • Normal blood sugar levels
  • Willing and able to sign informed consent

You may not qualify if:

  • Males
  • Post-menopausal
  • Premature menopause
  • Anemic Females: hemoglobin levels i.e. less than 12 g/dl
  • Serum ferritin level above 30 ng/ml.
  • Disturbed thyroid levels
  • Disturbed blood sugar levels
  • Pregnant
  • Lactating
  • Blood donors
  • Co-morbidities i.e., celiac disease, hemorrhoids, malignancies, hematuria, ulcers, heart failure, renal failure, chronic gastric symptoms/ gastric ulcers, chronic liver disease, disturbed thyroid levels and diabetes
  • Any medication or supplement which may impact iron metabolism.
  • History of iron or multivitamins supplementation in the last 3 months

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (4)

Fatima Memorial Hospital

Lahore, Punjab Province, 54782, Pakistan

Location

General Hospital Lahore

Lahore, Punjab Province, 54782, Pakistan

Location

Gulab Devi Hospital

Lahore, Punjab Province, 54782, Pakistan

Location

Sir Gangaram Hospital

Lahore, Punjab Province, 54782, Pakistan

Location

Related Publications (3)

  • Abuaisha M, Itani H, El Masri R, Antoun J. Prevalence of Iron Deficiency (ID) without anemia in the general population presenting to primary care clinics: a cross-sectional study. Postgrad Med. 2020 Apr;132(3):282-287. doi: 10.1080/00325481.2020.1715701. Epub 2020 Jan 22.

    PMID: 31933400BACKGROUND
  • Adams J, White M. Characterisation of UK diets according to degree of food processing and associations with socio-demographics and obesity: cross-sectional analysis of UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2008-12). Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2015 Dec 18;12:160. doi: 10.1186/s12966-015-0317-y.

    PMID: 26684833BACKGROUND
  • Al-Jafar HA. HWA: Hypoferritinemia without anemia a hidden hematology disorder. J Family Med Prim Care. 2017 Jan-Mar;6(1):69-72. doi: 10.4103/2249-4863.214986.

    PMID: 29026752BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Iron Deficiencies

Interventions

ferric carboxymaltose

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Iron Metabolism DisordersMetabolic DiseasesNutritional and Metabolic Diseases

Study Officials

  • Dr. Abdul Majeed Akhtar, MBBS, PhD

    The univeristy of Lahore

    STUDY CHAIR
  • Dr. Rubeena Zakir, MBBS, PhD

    University of Punjab

    STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Model Details: After randomization, 100 patients will be allocated to each of the three study groups, (total participants selected 300) i.e., group A, B and C. The participants of Group A will get oral Iron III Hydroxide Polymaltose Complex eq. to Elemental Iron, 100 mg (Fersip) daily for three months, participants of group B will get IV Ferric Carboxymaltose (Ferinject) for 03 months (3 doses) and Group C will remain on their normal diet All 03 groups will be called and their blood samples will be taken to evaluate the effect of iron supplementation on serum ferritin levels and severity of symptoms to assess the effectiveness of the intervention.
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Student

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

May 21, 2024

First Posted

May 31, 2024

Study Start

October 10, 2022

Primary Completion

April 1, 2025

Study Completion

April 1, 2025

Last Updated

February 11, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-02

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations